Coast Water Security Gets Major Lift as Mwache Project Nears Completion

By Caroline Katana

A major expansion of water infrastructure at the Coast is taking shape as the government races to complete the systems that will connect the Mwache Dam to millions of residents in Mombasa and Kwale.

The project is expected to enter a new phase in October, when the government plans to begin filling the reservoir as construction and supporting infrastructure move towards completion.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa said the main dam wall is substantially complete, putting the project on course for the planned October 1 impoundment.

The 84-metre structure will create a reservoir capable of holding about 136 billion litres of water. 

The stored water will then be treated and channelled through a network of pipelines to consumers across the Coast.

The government has committed an additional Sh13.6 billion to complete the project, which is being implemented alongside existing water sources such as Mzima Springs, Baricho Wellfield, Marere and Tiwi boreholes.

Mugaa said the investment was necessary as the region continues to depend on ageing water infrastructure, some of which has served residents for decades.

 The Mzima pipeline, for example, was constructed in 1952.

The next major piece of the system is the water treatment plant, with Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir saying the contractor is expected to break ground by the middle of September.

The plant will process up to 186,000 cubic metres of water every day. 

Pipeline contracts for the South and North Coast have already been awarded, while the link to Mombasa Island remains at the procurement stage.

The expanded network is expected to serve more than 1.5 million people and provide additional capacity alongside water from Sabaki and Mzima Springs.

But while the dam is approaching the operational stage, several supporting components are at different levels of completion.

Water Secretary and Project Manager Engineer Samwel Alima said the overall project is 81 per cent complete. 

The main dam stands at about 88 per cent, the lower check dam at 87 per cent, while works on replacement schools are almost finished at 99 per cent.

The lower check dam is being constructed to trap silt from the badly eroded catchment before it reaches the main reservoir. 

An upper check dam is also planned, although its construction has not started because it is being undertaken through a separate package.

Mwache has also brought significant changes to communities living within the project area.

Nlunguni Primary School, Fulugani Primary School and Mwache ECD were relocated to make way for the reservoir. 

The replacement facilities are nearly complete, with final works expected to be concluded before they are opened to learners in the third term.

The new schools have been fitted with solar power systems to reduce their operational costs.

Before handover, education officials, the Kwale County Government, school Boards of Management and representatives of the affected communities will inspect the facilities.

The government is also supporting households whose livelihoods were disrupted by the project.

Korir said beneficiaries who chose livestock enterprises are being assisted to establish structures for cattle, goats and poultry, while those who selected businesses are being supported with premises for three months.

Equipment for businesses including salons and car washes is being prepared, alongside motorbikes for eligible beneficiaries.

Other infrastructure works are still underway. They include a 15-kilometre road and the relocation of power connections affected by the project.

Korir said the National Land Commission had completed valuation and gazettement of land required for the road, with compensation expected to start in September after the remaining administrative procedures.

A cultural centre is also being designed following consultations with affected residents, while construction of a police post and a clinic is progressing.

Mugaa said a livelihood restoration consultant had been deployed to monitor the support programme and safeguard the interests of households affected by the project.

For the government, the value of Mwache goes beyond supplying more water.

Mugaa said improved water availability would support agriculture, industries and food production while strengthening public health and making the region more attractive to investors.

The reservoir could also create opportunities for tourism and other economic activities once the project becomes operational.

With the dam wall nearing completion and treatment and transmission infrastructure being put in place, the focus is now shifting to whether the different components can be delivered in time to support the planned October impoundment.

If the schedule holds, Mwache will begin its transition from a major construction project into a new water source for the Coast.