The Coast Development Authority has scaled up the rehabilitation of the dilapidated areas surrounding the multi-billion shilling Mwache Dam project in Fulugani, Kwale county ahead of its official launch.
CDA managing director Dr Mohamed Keinan said the ecological restoration and conservation are focused on ensuring the project is done in a safe and friendly environment.
Residents had previously destroyed the land around the project due to deforestation activities.
According to Keinan, the restoration works include tree planting, terracing, contour ploughing, rock terracing, gabion construction, and riparian marking and pegging to allow for the regeneration of natural vegetation.
"We are currently increasing the forest cover for the entire Mwache catchment area that stretches from Taita Taveta county to Kwale," he said.
Keinan said rehabilitation works on the dam site that were initiated under the Coast Water Security and Climate Change Resilience Project are almost finished.
The Sh20 billion Mwache Dam project is supposed to end the perennial water shortage in Kwale and boost the water supply in other coastal counties.
It will supply about 186,000 cubic meters of water to Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi counties daily.
It is jointly funded by World Bank and the Kenyan government.
The dam will be an 87.5-meter-tall concrete gravity dyke, impounding 118 million cubic meters for water supply and irrigation.
It is supposed to put 2,600 hectares of land under irrigation in Kwale to improve food security, living standards and socio-economic growth through agribusiness activities.
The dam is also targeted to enhance fishing as water from the overflowing river Mwache will be harnessed for development undertakings.
However, Keinan said CDA has constructed gabions and put markings and pegging around the banks of the dam site to restrain residents from invading and farming on riparian land.
The project was delayed because of political interference, lack of funding, land disputes and compensation issues.
The dam was first proposed by CDA in 1995.
The entire project will affect about 12,000 residents and 3,220 households from 20 villages. It runs from Fulugani to Pemba villages.
Phase one of the project will affect at least 4,000 residents.
Keinan said the project will commence soon as most of the plans and legal procedures are complete.
He said they have made great strides in compensating the affected people and others are yet to receive their packages.
CDA has come up with two models of compensation to the residents; the national and county governments will compensate the residents or they will be compensated through a public-private partnership model.
Keinan said the community is being sensitised to support the project that is set to be a game changer in the region's economy.
"Key stakeholders including the local community and the National Government Administration Officers (Ngao) are being sensitised on the need to support the project that will end water scarcity in the region and boost irrigated farming."
At least 49 shrines with more than 36 graves were relocated and their owners paid to pave way for the project. The payment per shrine exceeded Sh75,000.
Kasemeni Assistant County Commissioner Peter Seronga said the government has complied with all the demands of the locals, asking them to support the project fully.
Seronga said the dam will come with many goodies for the residents.
He said the project would spur employment opportunities, prosperity, and food security.
Seronga said the dam will put an end to the drought situation in the region which is wreaking havoc.
He said adequate water supply for residents and livestock would be readily available hence reducing crop and animal losses due to dry weather.
Seringa urged residents to shun deforestation and engage in active tree planting to prevent the county from turning into a desert.
-Edited by SKanyara