Work on Thwake Dam begins

Governors push for locals to

benefit from Thwake Dam jobs 

By Barrack Muli

Governor Charity Ngilu has called on the Balzugha Company to award local jobs to area residents following the start of construction of phase one of Thwake Multipurpose Dam.

CS Chelugui, Governors Alfred Mutua, Charity Ngilu and Prof Kibwana

Speaking at Thwake Dam site during a stakeholders meeting also attended by Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Dr. Alfred Mutua, and Water CS Simon Chelugui,  Ngilu said adequate public participation in the project was key to ease construction of the multi-billion dam.
The Governor said area leaders had agreed to support the project on assurance that locals would be key beneficiaries of the  project. “The company tasked to undertake the mega project must hasten the cause, our people need water for consumption and irrigation” she added.
She said the project, which was mooted during her tenure as the Minister for Water and Irrigation, is expected to transform the lives of the residents from the area upon completion.
Ngilu emphasized that Balzugha Co. must involve the locals and authorities in all stages of construction saying it was the " three counties' project".

The governors insisted on the adherence to the local-local Sub-contracting as agreed where contractors from the three counties would be given priority, with a list of pre-qualified ones shared with the contractor and the ministry.

Chelugui said compensation of the 186 affected households would be fast-tracked to aid in moving in unison in the project works.
Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua restated Ngilu's remarks that water provision to the residents in the three counties was the chief focus in efforts to realize food security.

Mr Chelugui said his ministry will push the contractor undertaking construction of Thwake dam to fast track its implementation and recover lost time. According to the CS, 11 months into the signing of the contract with China Gezhouba Group, the contractor, only 7.2 percent of civil works against an expected 19 percent has been achieved so far.

Chelugui said the ministry will ensure fast tracking of the project implementation so that it is completed within the 56 months’ contract period.

The three governors protested delaying of the distribution of domestic water component, insisting that it should be done simultaneously or immediately the Dam is done as the region is highly water stressed.

At least a volume of 60 Million litres of treated water from the dam will be reserved for domestic use in both Kitui and Makueni (Wote, Kathonzweni and Kibwezi).