The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved €68.39 million in additional loans and grants to finance the completion of Phase I of Kenya’s Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program, which is a key component of the country’s “Vision 2030” strategic plan.
This additional financial support is designed to guarantee that the construction process, which has currently reached approximately 90% completion, will be fully finalized to its original design specifications while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project. Specifically, this funding will provide significant assistance in achieving the project’s set targets and delivering the intended economic and social benefits to the local community as quickly as possible.
The original phase of this project, which commenced in 2013, was initially allocated a $96.22 million financing package through the African Development Fund (ADF), and the newly approved additional financing package consists of multiple components. This package comprises a €64.20 million loan directly from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a €4.2 million grant from the African Development Fund (ADF), alongside a €15 million counterpart funding contribution from the Government of Kenya.
These newly allocated resources will be utilized to finance vital engineering refinements and critical safety enhancements on the dam structure. This includes raising the overall height of the dam, strengthening its core foundations, and constructing two supplementary saddle dams, all of which will guarantee the long-term operational reliability and strategic value of this critical infrastructure asset.
The Thwake multipurpose project is strategically designed to significantly strengthen water security and bolster climate resilience in the semi-arid lower-eastern region of Kenya, specifically within Kitui and Makueni counties. Upon its final completion, the project is expected to supply up to 150,000 cubic meters of clean treated water daily to approximately 1.3 million people in these communities. Furthermore, the massive reservoir will support the development of modern irrigation systems covering 40,000 hectares of agricultural land, while simultaneously generating 20 megawatts of renewable hydropower to boost the regional grid.
Alex Mubiru, the Director General for East Africa at the African Development Bank Group, emphasized that this financing is fundamentally about completing a strategic national asset and ensuring it delivers fully on its promise to the nation.
He noted that with the project already at an advanced stage, the bank’s current focus is completely on safeguarding the integrity of the total investment, strengthening the technical design, and ensuring that local communities realize the full benefits in terms of water security, food production, and clean energy. Beyond the direct delivery of infrastructure, the project is already uplifting the broader Athi River catchment area by mitigation of flood risks, upgrading local public sanitation, and boosting household livelihoods.
The ongoing construction process has already generated numerous inclusive employment opportunities for local youth and women, while also augmenting nearby schools, healthcare facilities, and community water supply points. Looking ahead, the Thwake project will contribute to a substantial increase in Kenya’s national water reserves, catalyze agricultural productivity, and accelerate access to renewable energy. This entire landmark multi-purpose infrastructure project is fully expected to be completed and operational by September 2028.
