Construction Commences on Sh230 Million Water Infrastructure Extension in Tharaka Nithi

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa has formally commissioned the next phase of infrastructure development for the Chuka and Chogoria Water Supply Project in Kathwana. This new scope of work, valued at Sh230 million, is intended to bridge existing distribution gaps and ensure that the primary infrastructure translates into direct household and institutional access across Tharaka Nithi County.

The launch, held at the county headquarters in Kathwana, signals a concentrated effort to resolve long-standing water scarcity in a region where reliable supply has historically been a bottleneck for both domestic life and commercial investment. The Cabinet Secretary was joined by local leadership, including Chuka Igambang'ombe, Member of Parliament Patrick Munene and Tharaka Nithi Women Representative Susan Mwindu, alongside senior officials from the Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA).

Engineering specifications for the additional works include several critical components designed to stabilize and expand the existing network. Key among these is the construction of a 37-kilometer water transmission main dedicated to Kathwana, which will be supported by the installation of break pressure tanks to manage the flow across the region's varying topography. The project also encompasses the extension of the Kabui and Kaanwa tank lines to reach previously underserved clusters.

Beyond new installations, the contract includes vital maintenance and reinstatement works. Engineers are tasked with the rehabilitation of the raw water gravity main in sections where erosion has compromised the structural integrity of the pipeline. In Chogoria, the focus will shift toward the last mile of the delivery chain, with a mandate to complete numerous household and institutional water connections that remained outstanding from previous phases of the regional supply scheme.

Civil works on these extensions began in November 2025. The Ministry and TWWDA have set a strict delivery timeline, with completion scheduled for June 2026. According to Ministry officials, the project is a deliberate component of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which views water security as a prerequisite for grassroots economic activity and public health improvements.

For the residents of Chuka, Chogoria, and the growing administrative hub of Kathwana, the project addresses a fundamental infrastructure deficit. In his address at the site, CS Mugaa noted that the absence of consistent water has previously depressed land values and deterred investors who require reliable utilities for industrial or residential development. By providing a stable gravity-fed system, the government expects to reduce the operational costs for local institutions and improve the overall quality of life for thousands of households.

The Tana Water Works Development Agency, led by Chairman Theobald Mukundi Wambugu and CEO Philip Gichuki, will oversee the technical execution of the project. The agency is currently managing several similar water and sewerage interventions across the Tana basin, aiming to hit universal access targets by 2030. The Kathwana transmission main is seen as a particularly vital link, given the town's role as the county's gazetted headquarters and its projected population growth.

As the June 2026 deadline approaches, the Ministry has emphasized that there will be no tolerance for delays. Contractors have been instructed to maintain the current momentum to ensure the infrastructure is handed over on schedule. This project represents one of the final pieces of the broader Chuka and Chogoria regional water scheme, turning a high-capacity production system into a functional utility for the end user.