Mega project to end water shortage in Machakos

By Erastus Mulwa

Machakos County has begun implementing a mega water project expected to culminate in the construction of a 20 million cubic metre dam at a cost of Sh2.2 billion.

County executive in charge of Water Eng Francis Maliti and acting chief officer in charge of water, irrigation and sanitation Jeremiah Lemi at the weekend led a team of senior officials in a tour of the project site, which will also include rehabilitation of a canal stretching 70 kilometres into the Yatta plateau.

But the implementation of the project, whose construction was funded six years ago by the African Development Bank, is facing a huge challenge following a land ownership row where several owners of parcels touching the proposed site have rejected monies offered for compensation.

The county government has embarked on an elaborate arbitration process with a view to ensuring that the simmering controversy does not sink the proposed dam project, whose implementation deadline has been fixed for December 2014 by the key donor.

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has promised his government will ensure every household in the county has access to piped water and therefore the Yatta dam and canal project will be a major test towards achievement of this dream.

According to Mr Lemi, the implementation of the project prioritises the rehabilitation of the Yatta canal.

Major leap

The initiative will be a major leap towards increasing the irrigation capacity from the current 1,000 hectares to 5,000. “This project, once completed, will put more land into use through irrigation and eventually transform the economic potential of the region,” said Lemi.

The Yatta canal that was constructed during the pre-colonial era by the British administration has suffered massive siltation through encroachment by unscrupulous farmers over the years.This has subsequently reduced the water volume running through the facility.