The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved an additional €68.39 million in financing to support the completion of Kenya’s Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program Phase I, a flagship infrastructure project under the country’s Vision 2030 development strategy.
The project is now approximately 90 percent complete, and the new funding is intended to ensure its final delivery according to design standards while enhancing its long-term safety, reliability, and economic impact.
The financing package includes a €64.20 million loan from the African Development Bank, €4.2 million from the African Development Fund, and €15 million in counterpart funding from the Government of Kenya. These resources will support key engineering upgrades, including dam height adjustments, foundation reinforcement, and the construction of supplementary saddle dams.
Once completed, the Thwake Dam is expected to significantly improve water security in Kenya’s semi-arid regions of Kitui and Makueni counties. It will provide up to 150,000 cubic metres of clean water per day, benefiting approximately 1.3 million people. The project will also support irrigation across 40,000 hectares of farmland and generate around 20 megawatts of renewable hydropower.
Beyond water supply and energy generation, the dam is expected to enhance flood control, improve sanitation services, and strengthen livelihoods in the surrounding communities. It has already contributed to job creation during construction, with benefits extending to youth, women, and local service providers.
AfDB officials describe the additional financing as a strategic investment to safeguard a critical national asset and ensure that its full development potential is realised. The project is expected to deliver long-term gains in agricultural productivity, public health, energy access, and climate resilience.
Completion of the Thwake Dam is scheduled for September 2028, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s efforts to expand sustainable water infrastructure and support inclusive economic growth.
