Water CS Eugene Wamalwa address a public in Mount Kenya region when a portion of leaders from the area endorsed him to run for Nairobi governor. [Photo|The star]
Construction of the Sh19 billion Thiba dam in Kirinyaga County will take about 45 months (three and a half years) to complete, Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has said.
The CS said the mega project whose ground-breaking ceremony takes place this Thursday will end the dependency on rain-fed rice production at the Mwea irrigations scheme.
Speaking at the proposed dam site while inspecting the progress of the project, the CS asked the contractor to strictly adhere to the timelines and quality workmanship.
“We want this project not only double rice production when complete but also uplift the economic status of area residents through hiring them for the non-skilled and skilled jobs," he said.
Wamalwa said the Shs 8 billion project will have the capacity of more than doubling rice production from the current 80,000 metric tons which will double to 160,000 metric tons.
He said the dam will be one of the game changers for the national rice production from 120,000 metric tons which is expected to rise to over 200,000 metric tons.
The CS said plans are also in place to expand the old Bunyara Irrigation scheme in the lower Nzoia in Busia County.
‘We also intend to expand rice irrigation schemes in Ahero and West Kano which will be able to produce enough rice for the people and remove the country from the list of food insecure nations of the world.
Accompanied by area Governor Ann Waiguru, the CS said once rice production was doubled and there was enough to feed the country, then there will no longer be any need for importation of the cheap and inferior quality.