The multibillion-shilling project, Thwake multipurpose dam is set to be commissioned in June next year.
Speaking during the inspection of the project in Makueni, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the project will offer relief to the residents of Makueni and Machakos who have suffered for years due to lack of water.
“We plan to come back here in June next year to officially commission the Dam. Water can be used for domestic purposes and mostly irrigation,” he said.
He also directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to take action against companies polluting River Athi.
He noted that fixing the sewerage systems around cities would help solve the issue of pollution to water bodies.
“We can only do that by protecting our environment through developing and ensuring our cities have proper sewerage systems so that waste is not dumped into our rivers, lakes or seas. There are issues of environment pollution, we have tasked NEMA to deal with the matter,” he said.
“We are going to ensure that our environment is protected to ensure that there is no pollution happening upstream. It is a right of every Kenyan to get clean water.”
This comes after the Auditor General issued a report claiming that the water flowing into the dam may be unsafe for human consumption.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu said that the dam would be fed by water from Athi River whose main tributary is the heavily polluted Nairobi River.
The 688 million cubic metre Thwake dam is a Vision 2030 flagship project and a key initiative of the Government.
Kenyatta was received by a number of Cabinet Secretaries led by Monica Juma, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Ukambani Governors Charity Ngilu, Alfred Mutua, Kivutha Kibwana and Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo among others.
The tour comes after days after President Uhuru Kenyatta cancelled the tour citing rising Covid-19 infections in the country.
The Head of State will also visit Konza Technopolis, launch the Kibwezi-Kitui road and inaugurate the Machakos Convention Centre.
