The National Water Harvesting and
Storage Authority has said the revived Umaa dam project in Kitui
Central will not stall again.
Acting CEO Julius Mugun said since works on the project started in January this year, a lot has been done despite initial teething problems.
“The work is going on well. It is at 14 per cent now and we expect the pace to pick going forward. We are committed to ensure this project does not stall again,” he said in reference to the over 10 years the projects had stalled.
Mugun spoke during a visit to Kitui where NWHSA technical and strategy committee that is chaired by Kipseng’eret Koros inspected the ongoing works.
The team paid a courtesy call on Governor Julius Malombe.
Malombe praised President William Ruto for responding positively to his request to revive the Umaa dam project.
The governor made the appeal when the head of state attended a thanksgiving service in Kitui soon after he was elected in August 2022.
National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority has since took up the task of midwifing the revival of the construction of the project that was halted 2009 after a disagreement between the contractor and the government.
China Jiangxi International Corporation has been contracted to take over the project and bring the Sh1.9 billion dam project to completion.
The firm moved to site in January this year and has a two-year timeline to complete the work.
Koros said the government is committed to avail adequate funding for the completion of the project.
“The government is keen to ensure the project is complete. We are thankful for government support and we have faith during the current administration, the project will be completed as scheduled,” he said.
Kitui water and irrigation executive Peter Nkunda said once completed, the project will go a long way in complementing water supply to Kitui town and its environs, and reduce water shortages within the municipality.
Umaa dam, a Vision 2030 flagship project, has a storage capacity of 1.228 million cubic metres and an expected supply rate of 3,975 cubic metres per day.
It is expected to serve a population
of more than 75,000 people in Kitui County once complete.