This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
On September 18, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta received a report on the Kimwarer and Arror Dam Projects from a Technical Committee he formed to investigate irregularities surrounding the projects.
The committee, chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Prof Paul Maringa, assessed the viability of the dams and reported that the Kimwarer Dam was overpriced and not technically or financially viable.
The Technical Committee found that no current reliable feasibility study had been conducted on the Kimwarer Dam project, and a previous study 28 years ago revealed a geological fault that would negatively affect the dam's structure.
Additionally, the project area is settled, requiring compensation for displaced residents, and the water supply mechanism would involve unsustainable pumping costs.
Therefore, the Technical Committee recommended discontinuing the Kimwarer Dam project.
However, the Arror Multipurpose Dam project was found to be economically viable but overpriced, prompting the committee to recommend a cost rationalization plan.
The committee prepared a new Bills of Quantities (BQ) for a modified dam with a scaled-down height, reducing the cost from KShs 28.3 billion to KShs 15.4 billion (with power) or KShs 13.1 billion (without power).
President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted the report and directed the immediate cancellation of the Kimwarer Dam project and the commencement of the Arror Multipurpose Dam project with the new design components and cost rationalization plan.
