Sh450 million water project commissioned

Last Updated 15 years ago by Kenya Engineer

A Sh450 million water project has been commissioned as part of a campaign to ease perennial water shortages in Kiambu and Nairobi counties. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on 12th March commissioned  the commencement of construction of the Theta Dam in Kinale forest in Gatundu South Constituency. The dam contract was awarded to Lee Construction Ltd by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and is expected to be completed by April next year. During the launch, Water and Irrigation Assistant Minister Ferdinand Watitu said the dam will have a storage capacity of 2 billion litres of water  with 15,000 cubic metres being produced per day.

“The construction involves bush clearing, construction of a  17 metre high compacted earth fill dam , a spillway reinforced by concrete and laying of a 3.5 kilometre steel pipeline,” Mr Watitu said.  The government has been working on various water projects to curb shortages, especially in Nairobi and its environs.

At present Nairobi residents’ demand stands at 750,000 cubic metres against a supply capacity of 550,000 cubic metres. The water is sourced mostly from Ngethu and Ndakaini dams. The Water ministry is betting on the new project to provide Nairobi residents with more of the commodity.

“The project will produce water that will be enough for the area residents, while the remainder will be piped to Nairobi County,” said Mr Waititu.
He said that the dam will augment Ndirangu and Thiririka dams which have been supplying the area with water. Thiririka and Ndirangu projects will be revamped with water treatment plants installed  to improve service delivery.

The two projects will cost Sh67 million and Sh45 million respectively. Upon completion Thirika will produce 9,000 cubic metres of water per day and Ndirangu 4,000 cubic metres. Mr Kenyatta said the project will help farmers by providing them with enough water for irrigation Most coffee, vegetable and fruit farmers in the area depend on dam water  for irrigation.

The government will also spend Sh70 million  to put up a new 111 kilometre water supply pipeline from Ngethu Dam through Ruiru to Nairobi.Ngethu treatment works supply 80 per cent of the Nairobi residents with the commodity.