The long-awaited construction of the Itare dam project which stalled five years ago is now set to resume by the end of the year.
According to Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, all the issues surrounding it have since been resolved paving the way for it to proceed.
“President Ruto has solved the Itare dam puzzle, and the construction will resume in December this year,” he said.
Speaking when he made a tour of the site, Mwaura noted that the water project is among the 100 large dams that have been prioritised for construction across the country as part of the plans to address the water problem in the country.
The dams, he added, are also crucial in storing substantial amounts of runoff water, which currently contributes to the flooding situation in the country.
The Sh38 billion project faced numerous challenges ranging from compensation, alleged flawed procurement processes and court cases.
In September 2018, the Italian Contractor CMC Di Ravenna left the site citing financial reasons.
Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency which is the implementing agency said the contractor executed only 30 percent of the works.
This includes a dam foundation, treatment plant, outlet tunnel and pipeline.
The new contractor is, however, yet to be revealed.
It was initially slated to be completed in April 2021 supplying clean drinking water to about 800,000 residents of Nakuru.
Once completed, it will have a capacity of 27 million cubic meters of water and will provide 100,000 cubic meters of water per day.
Mwaura stated that over 10,000 youth will be employed as unskilled labourers during the construction process.
“Over 70 per cent of the unskilled labour required for the dam's construction will be sourced locally, creating over 10,000 jobs for local hustlers,” he said.
“This initiative aims to boost local employment and enhance the region's economic development,” he added.
