• The Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, describes the dam as a multipurpose infrastructure marvel.

At the confluence of the Athi and Thwake Rivers, at the border of Makueni and Kitui Counties, the Thwake Dam now nearing completion is a pivot toward resilience in a region long defined by water scarcity and climate vulnerability.

The Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, describes the dam as a multipurpose infrastructure marvel.

Executed by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Thwake is one of the flagship projects under Kenya’s Vision 2030 a blueprint for transformation that’s finally taking shape on the ground.

“Strategically designed, Thwake Dam aims to enhance water security, boost agricultural productivity, and generate clean energy for the region,” Omollo said. “It will provide safe drinking water, support the irrigation of over 40,000 hectares of farmland, and deliver 20MW of hydropower, along with other essential water supply infrastructure.”

With a reservoir capacity of 688 million cubic meters, Thwake is set to serve over 1.3 million people across Makueni, Kitui, and parts of Machakos including the rapidly expanding Konza Techno City.

As Kenya’s second-largest dam after Masinga, its rock-fill structure rises 80.5 meters high, anchored by an impervious concrete face.

According to PS Omollo, But its true height lies in its potential: to anchor rural livelihoods, power urban growth, and buffer the region against the extremes of a changing climate.
In the face of global warming, dams like Thwake offer more than utility. They offer climate resilience.

They store water during droughts, tame floods during heavy rains, and stabilize food production through reliable irrigation.

They support urban systems with consistent access to clean water and generate renewable hydropower that reduces dependence on fossil fuels. When sustainably managed, they recharge groundwater, support ecosystems, and smooth out the seasonal chaos that climate change continues to unleash.