State to revive stalled Umaa mega dam project at a cost of Sh2bn

The government has started the revival of the stalled multi-million Umaa Dam project whose construction has stalled for 13 years.

The new contractor, China Jiangxi International corporation and the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority officials visited the project on Friday.

The site was bushy and littered with worn out pipes, rusting metal and abandoned concrete.

The mega dam, whose initial contract value was Sh824 million, will be completed at the cost of Sh2 billion, NWHSA engineer, Aphia Kaluku said.

The organisation will oversee the project.

She said the dam is expected to produce 37.5 cubic meters of water per day once complete.

Kaluku, who is also the Umaa dam project manager, said the facility will provide water to more than 75,000 residents.

She spoke during the site visit on Friday. China Jiangxi International corporation was represented by Qin Liang.

Kitui county executives for Water and Irrigation, Peter Nkunda, Public Works Reuben Itiko and Trade Rose Mutuku also toured the facility.

Kaluku said the contractor had two years to complete the project.

She said the row that saw the former contractor, Draft and Develop Engineers discharged, was amicably resolved.

The Umaa Dam construction was started in 2009 but a row over the rising cost of the project, saw it stop in 2010.

Sixty eight per cent of the works had been done at the time.

The contractor had demanded Sh1.2 billion from the initial cost of  Sh824 million.

The differences saw the contractor take the government to court to stop it from accessing the site and terminating or awarding the project to a new firm.

The dispute was however resolved amicably and a new contractor awarded the job.

Kaluku said the project works will start that in under two months.

She said the  initial Sh250 million meant to kick start the project has already been set aside by the government.

The engineer said the project will be completed in two years owing to the adequate funding.

Nkunda expressed concern that the initial Sh250 million allocated was too little.

He  said he will lobby MPs from Kitui to push for more funds.

The executive said Governor Julius Malombe was keen to see the completion of the project.

Malombe, in January last year, took the then water PS Paul Rono on a tour  of the project site.

He urged Rono to allocate funds for the revival of the project

“Our governor is  committed and is keen to see the  revival of the  project. He is  ready to  offer the feasible support,” Nkunda said.