The Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation, led by David Bowen (Marakwet East), conducted a fact-finding mission over the weekend to investigate the slow progress of the Thwake Dam project. The dam, designed for water storage and power generation in Kitui and Makueni counties with a budget of Sh64 billion, faced scrutiny during a presentation by the project consultant.
Delays in government funding, inflation-related costs, and land acquisition were identified as challenges causing the project to lag. The project consultant outlined social impact initiatives, including contributions to education, water, and health sectors, but committee members expressed skepticism.
Makueni MP Suzanne Kiamba questioned the reasons for delays and urged the contractor to maintain transparency. Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North) and other committee members raised concerns about the project’s slow progress, calling for a comprehensive breakdown of Corporate Social Responsibility spending given the substantial budget.
Doubts were raised about the claimed 87% completion, leading to demands for a thorough investigation into the project’s geotechnical aspects, scope, and remaining workload. The discrepancy between allocated funds and visible project outcomes was highlighted during discussions.
David Bowen warned against mistreatment of Kenyan workers and suggested that recommendations for blacklisting foreign contractors could be considered. He called for a parliamentary inquiry to address concerns and questioned the reasons behind the project’s stall despite available funds.
