This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Published on July 9, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to crack down on factories discharging effluent waste to Athi River.
The directive follows a warning by the Auditor General that Thwake dam's water is unfit for human consumption due to pollution.
During a tour of the Sh40 billion Thwake dam, President Kenyatta was accompanied by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni).
Thwake dam is one of the largest in the country and is expected to provide water supply for domestic, livestock, irrigation, and hydropower in the three Ukambani counties.
President Kenyatta also promised the Ukambani residents timely completion of the Kibwezi-Kitui road, worth Sh18 billion, funded jointly by Kenyan taxpayers and the Chinese EXIM bank.
