The constructing a mega dam in Mt Kenya forest along Likii north river on Mt Kenya National park has commenced in earnest four years after the process was initiated.
The dam’s which will cost the Government an estimated Ksh.5 billion is expected to serve Laikipia, Nyeri and Meru counties, and is among 56 others that the Government intends to construct by 2022.
Water Chief Administrative Secretary Winnie Guchu and her Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu joined the Laikipia County administration as well as engineers from the Water Resources Management Authority on an inspection tour of the construction site.
Guchu affirmed the Government’s commitment to ensure the project is actualized saying the process commenced four years ago and has delayed beyond expectations.
She said that the mega dam will hold 5.5million cubic meters of runoff water for use during the dry spell to downstream users in the three counties.
The CAS said the Government intends to construct as many dams as possible so as to harvest millions of liters of water that go to waste during heavy rains as well as avoid the havoc caused by the same.
The construction will start once all people have been consulted in public Barazas to ensure their safety and address any arising claims.
At the same time Guchu said that a taskforce that had been formed to audit the conditions of most dams in the country will finish its work in two months’ time and present its report to the Ministry.
This taskforce was formed after the collapse of the Solai Dam in Nakuru County killing over fifty people.
Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi said Nanyuki Water and Sewarage Company will expand its treatment and sanitation works to cater for the huge volumes of water once the dam is complete.
Muriithi also apologized for reprimanding the pupils of Tharua Primary school who had presented a song urging the County Government to construct toilets for them in a previous event, but urged teachers to teach the pupils positive things.
