Water CS Eric Mugaa and other Ministry Officials during the Inspection of Thwake Dam Project on September 24,2025. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation Eric Mugaa has assured Kenyans that the construction of Thwake Dam is firmly on track, despite concerns raised in sections of the media.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the project in Makueni County, the CS dismissed claims that the contractor had abandoned the site, saying the team had never left.
“There has been a lot of propaganda in newspapers and social media about this Dam, but as you can see, things are not the way they were last year when we visited,” Mugaa said.
According to the CS, the project has now reached a critical stage—commencement of the Upstream Phase Concreting, which forms the final layer of the dam wall. This stage, he explained, could only begin after the top surface of the embankment had settled to internationally accepted safety standards.
“We are picking advice from world dam experts who recommend that upstream concreting can only start once settlement on the top surface is less than five millimeters per month. We are happy that Thwake Dam has attained that level,” Mugaa stated.
He warned that starting the process prematurely would have caused cracks in the wall, jeopardizing the dam’s integrity. “The concreting is vital because it prevents water from seeping through the wall. It is the last step toward completing the embankment,” he added.
The CS noted that the dam wall, stretching 1.5 kilometers, will be concreted in panels with engineering joints to ensure there are no leakages. This process, he said, would take six to eight months if the contractor fully mobilizes resources.
“We are therefore looking at impounding or water retention during the coming long rains,” he revealed.
Mugaa further acknowledged delays linked to funding and safety concerns, saying the government has already applied for additional financing from the African Development Bank to complete the first phase.
The National Land Commission is also finalizing verification, vesting, and adjudication processes related to land acquisition for the project.
Once completed, Thwake Dam will have the capacity to hold 688 million cubic meters of water, benefiting millions of residents across Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui counties.
“I am asking the people of Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui to be patient. Dams have serious consequences if not properly done, and we have put all the necessary steps in place to ensure it is completed safely,” the CS assured.
