Soin-Koru Dam set to kick off at shs 25B as 2,500 acres of land to be utilized

Chairman of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority Eric Okeyo address the media of the issue of proposed Soin-Koru Multi-Purpose Dam which is to be constructed in the borders of Kisumu and Kericho counties-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

June 10, 2020

Soin-Koru Dam set to kick off at shs 25B as 2,500 acres of land to be utilized 

The Government is set to acquire about 2,500 acres of land towards the construction of a multi-billion purpose dam between Kericho and Kisumu Counties by the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority.

Chairman of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority Eric Okeyo says the Government is very keen on fully implementing the project after the National Treasury has approved shs 25 billion for the project which set to kick off soon.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today after meeting Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili, the chairman of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority said part of approved funds will be available soon once the National Budget is read tomorrow Thursday.

He adds that other funds will be available during the Supplimentary Budget in October this year, adding that the project’s timeline is five years from the date of commencement.

Okeyo says the process of land acquisition is underway and the Authority will tomorrow {Thursday} carry out public participation on the issue of acquiring land from the residents of the area.

The Chairman says about shs 2 Billion will be used to compensate the land owners, adding that 206 parcels of land will be affected in Kisumu County while 110 in Kericho county.

“You can see the economic ripple effect that our Counties stand to benefit,” Okeyo says.

 On his part, the Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili while delivering Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o's message highlighted that the dam which was conceived even before Kenya’s independence will provide a lasting solution to the perennial flooding that has continued to cause unending suffering to the people of Kisumu.

He noted that the effects have been so devastating resulting into massive destruction of crops and livestock amounting to 3 billion shillings in this year alone.

Dr. Owili assured the NWHSA team of the County’s commitment to partner with the Authority to ensure that the project is delivered on time.

He also mentioned that the County, through the Department of Water, Irrigation and Environment under the leadership of the Minister Salmon Orimba has actively and continuously engaged the project affected persons within the proposed site in a number of forums regarding the dam construction especially on issues related to the actual area the dam will occupy, the affected population and more importantly compensation of affected persons.

The proposed Soin-Koru Dam is a vision 2030 flagship project which is located in Kisumu and Kericho counties along River Nyando approximately 5 kilometers upstream of Muhoroni town and River Nyando is one of the seven major rivers within the Lake Victoria Basin originating from the upper highland areas and flows into the Lake Victoria.

The Soin-Koru Dam started in 1982 by Italian Government and taken over by the NWCPC in 2009.

The Project’s components include Rockfill dam of 54 meters height, storage capacity of 93.7MM cubic, water treatment works of 71.279 Meters cubic per day.

Others include trunk distribution pipelines of diameters 1200-150 millimeters and of total length of 122.54 kilometers as well as 12 number storage tanks of total capacity of 23.400 meters.

One of the major benefits of the project will be to control the perennial floods caused by the river Nyando over-topping its banks thereby affecting a section of residents in Kisumu County especially in Nyando, Muhoroni and Nyakach constituencies.

Flooding within lower reaches of Kano plains displaces more than 5,000 people yearly costing about shs 50 million due to damages and further shs 30 million for rehabilitation measures.

Another benefit is water supply for domestic, commercial {Irrigation} and institutional use as all the residents near the dam site and downstream of the dam site will be served with water to supplement the existing facilities where areas like Kisumu City and the emerging towns of Ahero, Chemelil, Miwani, Muhoroni, Koru, Awasi, Koitaburot, Katito, Masogo and Ombeyi will be major beneficiaries as a result of this projec.

The other benefits include increased area under irrigation schemes in and around Ahero and West Kano Irrigation schemes from 1,800 hectares to 5,370 and also power generation of approximately 2.5 megawatts which will be used to pump water to higher areas while excess power sold to Kenya Power as this will translate to cheaper water and additional income for the two counties.

Already, a Tender notice was issued last week on Thursday shows that works on the project which is funded by the National Government is open for the International bidders.

NWHSA Director Bernard Okebe two months ago led a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Kisumu to discuss the compensation of those who will be displaced because of the project among other details about it.

The Director expressed confidence that the proposed project will surely help in addressing the constant flooding menace that is yearly witnessed in parts of Kisumu County.

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