The County Government of Kwale has launched phase one of Makamini Dam project in McKinnon Road Ward, Kinango Sub County.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and the Water, Sanitation and Irrigation CS Sicily Kariuki have launched the water project that seeks to improve access to water, health and hygiene in arid and semi-arid parts of the vast county.
The project is being financed by the national government through the Coast Water Works Development Agency at a cost of Sh 1.2billion. It is the the second big project after the Mwache multipurpose dam project, which is meant to harness the flood flows from Mwache River basin for domestic water supply and irrigation in Kwale and Mombasa counties.
Water scarcity problem
The Sh20 billion Mwache Dam is an 87.5-meter-tall concrete gravity dyke, impounding 118 million cubic meters for water supply and irrigation and is expected to boost the water supply for the two coastal counties. Makamini Dam project upon completion is set to provide potable water to over 40,000 residents from Makamini, Kinagoni, Matumbi, Mtaa, Mabesheni, Bofu, Kibandaongo, Mnyenzeni and Mwamdudu sub locations, upon completion.
The first phase of the project’s construction works is expected to be completed after a period of 18 months. The governor is also optimistic that the Makamini Dam project once complete, together with other dams funded by the devolved unit such as the Mwakalanga, Kizingo and Dziweni dams will solve the water scarcity problem facing the people living in the semi-arid areas of the county.
On her part, the CS assured Mvurya of continued support from the national government in matters of new infrastructure facilities.
“Infrastructure investments are crucial to extend water and sanitation services to more people across the country. Once complete, the project will help local people, especially mothers who walk long distances in search of water. It will also reduce cases of sexual abuse among the girls and it will help them concentrate with their studies instead of searching for water,” said CS Kariuki.
