Kenya: AfDB Okays Sh7 Billon Loan for Water Project

11 November 2013

The Star

Along queue of jerrycans at a kiosk run by Kimwasco during a past water shortage in Kitui. Photo/File
The African Development Bank has approved a Sh7.83 billion loan for a water project covering Kitui and Makueni counties and Konza city in Machakos county.

AfDB's board has also approved a Sh153 million grant to the government to finance the first phase of the Thwake Multi-Purpose Water Development Programme. The amount represents 35.1 per cent of the estimated cost of the first phase which will begin off next month.

"The project will increase water storage for rural and urban human consumption, for irrigation and livestock and for hydropower using Athi River water," AfDB said on Friday in an online press release.

The project will be implemented over a 10- year period in four phases. The first phase will include the construction of a 77-metre-high multi-purpose dam, which will set the ground for the second phase that will treat and distribute up to 35 million litres of water.

The last two phases will include the development of a hydropower and substation, which will produce up to 20mw of installed capacity, and an irrigation scheme that will cover 40,075 hectares. "The project will benefit 674,700 rural inhabitants of Kitui and Makueni counties, and up to 640,000 inhabitants of Konza city," the bank said.

Other beneficiaries include institutions managing water resources in Athi River Basin as well as "the entire Kenyan economy". The bank said the project is in line with Vision 2030. "The Thwake multipurpose dam is a flagship operation in the draft National Water Master Plan 2030," AfDB said.

Original article by Manue l Odeny


Category: Energy