Mwache Main Dam Reaches 68 Percent Completion as Concrete Works Accelerate

Construction of the Mwache Main Dam in Kwale County has reached 68 percent completion, following an acceleration in the primary structural works. The project management team confirmed the progress during a site inspection on Friday, noting that the technical focus has shifted to the elevation of the dam wall through continuous concrete placement as reported by Julius Korir  on X.

Engineers at the site are currently executing the tenth lift of Roller-Compacted Concrete pouring and compaction. This specific method is being utilized to build the gravity dam's main body, a process that requires high-intensity compaction to ensure the structural integrity of the 84-meter-tall barrier. The transition to Lift Number 10 indicates the project is maintaining a steady vertical growth toward its final crest height.

The dam is a flagship component of the Kenya Coast Water Security and Climate Resilience Project. It is designed to address chronic water shortages in the coastal region by capturing 136 million cubic metres of water from the Mwache River. This storage capacity is intended to stabilize the supply chain for domestic and industrial use across both Mombasa and Kwale counties.

Upon full commissioning, the facility is expected to produce approximately 186,000 cubic metres of potable water per day. The infrastructure also includes provisions for a lower check dam to manage siltation and support irrigation for roughly 2,000 hectares of land. Assistant Project Manager Eng. Hosea Wendot, who led the inspection, observed that the ongoing RCC works remain the critical path for meeting the project’s final delivery timelines.