Why the Sh8.2 Billion Siyoi Muruny Dam has been Shrouded in Mystery for Years

After more than a decade of delays and repeated funding setbacks, the Sh8.2 billion Siyoi Muruny Dam in West Pokot is finally approaching completion. The strategic water project has reached 86.7 per cent completion, raising hopes it could soon begin serving hundreds of thousands of residents.

The latest inspection showed the massive 30-metre-high (98-foot) cyclopean concrete gravity dam largely complete, with cranes, scaffolding and remaining rock protection and finishing works still visible across the site. Water Cabinet Secretary Eng. Eric Mugaa used the visit to explain the project's progress and expected benefits.

The dam has a crest length of 193 metres (633 feet), an embankment volume of about 63,000 cubic metres, and is designed to store 8.9 million cubic metres of water from River Muruny.

At the time of the inspection, part of the reservoir had already begun holding water behind completed sections of the dam. Aerial views of the site also show newly constructed access roads linking the facility to the surrounding area.

Construction began in March 2015, but the project remained stalled for years due to funding shortages, making it one of Kenya's longest-delayed water infrastructure developments.

The works are divided into two lots. Lot One covers the main dam, a bridge across the reservoir, access roads, two community water projects and corporate social responsibility components.

Lot Two includes the conventional water treatment plant at Kabichbich, storage tanks, and bulk transmission and distribution pipelines that will deliver treated water to consumers. Mugaa said the remaining work is concentrated on completing the main dam structure, while the treatment works and pipeline network are at a more advanced stage.

Once complete, the project is expected to provide clean water to approximately 350,000 residents in Kapenguria and surrounding areas. The supply will support domestic use, irrigation, livestock watering and other economic activities.

Recent government allocations, including additional funding in the 2026/27 financial year, have accelerated construction after years of uncertainty. During the inspection, Mugaa urged the contractor to complete the remaining works ahead of the revised schedule.

The inspection showcased one of Kenya's largest ongoing water infrastructure projects, with the towering concrete wall now dominating the River Muruny valley. Although finishing works remain, the project is visibly closer to completion than at any point since construction began in 2015.