Uhuru Takes Action After Receiving Arror & Kimwarer Report

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, September 18, ordered the cancellation of the Kimwarer dam project contract.

The project, which has made headlines a couple of times in the media, was found to be overpriced and economically unviable.

The president also ordered the immediate commencement of the implementation of the Arror Multipurpose Dam project with the new design components and cost rationalization plan as developed by a technical committee tasked to review the projects. 

Workers at Kipsaiya, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, where Arror dam was to be constructed. A report presented to the Head of State noted that the construction of the dam was economically viable but noted that it was overpriced.

In a report presented to the president by the committee chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure, Professor Paul Maringa and comprising of Quantity Surveyor Julius Matu, Eng Benjamin Mwangi and Eng John Muiruri, the Kimwarer dam project was found to be overpriced.

The committee established that no current reliable feasibility study had been conducted on the dam project.

In addition, it was noted that a study orchestrated on a similar project 28 years ago had revealed a geological fault across the 800-acre project area, which would have negative structural effects on the proposed dam.

Also, the committee disclosed that people living in the project area would require compensation if they were to be displaced.

The report also stated that the water supply mechanism for the Kimwarer Dam would involve pumping, an aspect the technical committee found to be unsustainable.

Therefore, the committee adviced the commander-in-chief to discontinue the Kimwarer Dam project.

The committee also reviewed the Arror Multipurpose Dam, which they stated, was economically viable but noted that it was overpriced.

They advocated for a cost rationalization plan, which would ensure that the project was implemented cost-effectively without affecting its performance and output.

 

President Uhuru Kenyatta. He ordered for the cancellation of the Kimwarer project contract on Wednesday, September 18.