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"id": 1625724,
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"speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation",
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"content": "(Hon. (Eng.) Muriithi Mugaa): Mr. Speaker, Sir, in response to the Question by Sen. Mundigi, Kamumu Dam is a zoned high rock filled dam that is 60 metres high, 725 metres long, that will store approximately 22 million cubic litres. This project is expected to cost approximately Kshs6.65 billion and it was developed by Tana Water Works Development Agency. There was an expression of interest on the same in December, 2020 under the model of engineering, procurement, construction and financing. Following the evaluation, the Wheelmen Group of Belgium was identified as our preferred contractor. However, the project could not commence due to the high cost of financing proposed by the contractor. There were issues with land and wayleave acquisition that still remains incomplete according to the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). In the meantime, feasibility study upgrades are underway and engagement with key stakeholders, including the NLC are ongoing to unlock land-related bottlenecks. The project is part of some projects on the pipeline under the PPP framework. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Thuci Dam, which is a zoned also rock-filled structure, 84 metres high and around 332 metres long, is expected to have a storage capacity of around 23 million cubic metres. The project is meant to do some irrigation, domestic consumption and produce up to 5 megawatts of power. The approximate cost is around Kshs9 billion. The status is that the project was advertised in 2023 under a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) by Elevo Group Company was submitted by an investor for implementation and design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer model. Despite the progress there have been delays that resulted from the complex due diligence processes that are associated with PIPs, particularly technical and financial appraisals and also alignment with regulatory and fiscal frameworks. The land acquisition process that is including RAP has also not been finalised and to mitigate these challenges the ministry has reviewed and validated the submitted designs, initiated inter-agency Ministry, inter-agency coordination to first track evaluation and this is also scheduled under the PPP project pipeline. Mr. Speaker, Thambana Dam at the confluence of River Thambana and Rupingazi is designed to be 40 metres high, storage capacity of around 27 million cubic meters and is expected to supply water for domestic, do some irrigation to around 24,000 acres and generate one megawatt of power at a cost of around Kshs22 billion. Conceptual design was completed in 2023 by the Ministry and an expression of interest was again issued in August, 2023 and accepted also in the same month. However, the proponent did not submit the mandatory deposit fee required under the PPP regulations of 2022 for PIP proposals, prompting the Ministry to initiate a fresh process. The second part of the question was to outline the measures in place to fast-track implementation of these dams’ construction projects and provide timelines. On Kamumu, Thuci and the Thambana Dams projects in Embu County, the Ministry has put in place several mitigation measures aimed at resolving the outstanding issues. The measures The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}