National Development Implementation Technical Committee Projects Assesed By Principal Secretaries.
A delegation of National Government Multi- Agency Team toured Thiba Dam in Kirinyaga County to assess the progress of ongoing works at the dam site. The team comprised of Principal Secretaries, PS State Department of Petroleum Mr. Andrew Kamau CBS, PS Education Post Training Mr. Alfred K. Cheruiyot CBS, PS Agriculture and Crop Development Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga, CBS, representing the National Development Implementation Technical Committee, officers from the President’s Delivery Unit and the County Commissioner. They were received by the National Irrigation Authority CEO Gitonga Mugambi, the contractor, consultant, project manager among other senior officers.
They inspected the ongoing works and were pleased with the progress so far. They called upon the contractors to fast track implementation to ensure timely completion for the beneficiaries to start utilizing the installed infrastructure for food production as envisioned.
The National Irrigation Authority is overseeing construction of The Dam with the Consultant being a joint venture of Nippon Koei and Gibb Africa and contractor Straback International GmbH (Germany).
Once the Dam is completed, an additional 10,000 acres will be put under irrigation in Mwea Irrigation Scheme as well as provide sufficient water for double cropping of the entire 35,000 acres of the scheme per year.
Currently the overall physical progress of the project is 52% complete and is benefiting 700 employees (90% local and 10% skilled).
The contractor having extended the working hours for activities on the critical path (embankment and grouting works at the main dam) to catchup on the delayed progress, is expected to complete the project on December 1, 2021.