Mwache Multipurpose Dam in Kwale County is nearing completion, with construction now more than 90 per cent done as the Government prepares to move the project toward reservoir impoundment.
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa said on Friday, August 14, 2026, that the project would give the Coast region a major boost in water supply while supporting jobs, economic activity and efforts to deal with the effects of climate change.
Mugaa spoke after inspecting the project in Kinango Sub-County, where he said construction was progressing steadily toward the planned start of reservoir impoundment.
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa. PHOTO/Handout
“The Mwache Multipurpose Dam is a flagship project advancing the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by strengthening water security, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and building climate resilience for communities along the Coast,” the PS said.
The 84-metre-high roller-compacted concrete gravity dam has so far reached about 79 metres, with the remaining works expected to continue toward full completion.
Once finished, the dam will hold about 136 billion litres of water and provide approximately 186 million litres of treated clean water every day to households, industries and institutions in Kwale and Mombasa counties.
The project is expected to serve more than 1.6 million people and help address long-running water shortages that have affected homes, industries and tourism businesses across the Coast.
Mugaa said improved access to reliable water would also create room for increased agricultural production and support other economic activities in the region.
The CS was accompanied during the inspection by Principal Secretary for the State Department for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir, Water Secretary Eng. S.A.O. Alima, senior officials from the Project Management Unit, supervising consultants, the contractor and project engineers.
Mugaa directed the project team and contractor to sustain the pace of construction and ensure the remaining work is completed within the agreed timelines and meets the required standards.
“I have directed the project team and contractor to maintain the current momentum and ensure the remaining works are completed to the highest standards and within the set timelines,” Mugaa said.
Mwache Dam is among the Government’s largest water infrastructure projects and is part of efforts to expand access to clean water while securing the Coast region’s long-term water needs.