The Thwake multipurpose water development program is a priority project in the Government of Kenya’s Vision 2030. It has been labelled one of the country’s most ambitious water development projects, set to transform the semi-arid lower Eastern region of the country.

The staged program is set to be implemented in four phases. The first phase involves the construction of an 80.5m high multi-purpose dam with a storage capacity of 688 million cubic meters and associated preliminary works in preparation for the remaining phases. The new dam reservoir will include a 20MW hydropower facility and provide enhanced water supply and irrigation that will impact approximately 1.3 million people.

SMEC is currently leading design and engineering of the dam, spillway, and powerhouse, currently under construction. SMEC engineers are also overseeing investigations to develop designs for new water treatment facilities and sanitation infrastructure for the later phases.

Earlier in the year the year a section of Athi River was diverted into two giant tunnels to enable excavation works for the rock field dam wall (87m) and installation of the spillways for excess water flow.

(Progress photos March – June 2022)