Isiolo celebrates revival of crocodile jaw dam

Caption: Isiolo County Governor Ibrahim Guyo and Irrigation PS Ephantus Kamotho and other government officials at the construction site for the proposed 'crocodile jaw dam' along Ewaso Ng'iro North River.

By Abdullahi Mohammed
Thursday, February 1, 2024

On Thursday, Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Guyo visited the future site of the Crocodile Jaw Dam alongside Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho.

On Thursday, Isiolo Governor Ibrahim Guyo visited the future site of the Crocodile Jaw Dam alongside Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, local leaders, and contractors to celebrate the revival of the transformational initiative first proposed in 2013. The gathering marked a pivotal moment for a county that has grappled with severe water scarcity and a lack of irrigation infrastructure to support agriculture.

Speaking passionately at the event held on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro North River, Governor Guyo touted the dam's enormous potential to address these interconnected challenges.

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"I have lobbied day and night over the last three years to accelerate progress on this critical project, which can revolutionize lives and livelihoods across Isiolo," he said. "With reliable water resources and irrigation, we will boost crop yields, improve food security and catalyze sustainable economic development for generations."

The Crocodile Jaw Dam is considered a strategic lynchpin in the county's growth. In addition to supplying 10 million cubic meters of fresh water annually for drinking and agriculture, the gravity-driven system will feed irrigation to over 5,000 hectares of land. Officials believe transforming the semi-arid area into fertile farmland will increase household incomes for at least 12,000 families.

The dam itself will provide up to 1.6 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric power. Fish farming around the 128 million cubic meter reservoir is also being explored as an economic opportunity.

PS Kimotho lauded the community-centric design of the revived project, including enhanced public participation.

"Past concerns about transparency and inclusion have been heard loud and clear," the irrigation PS said. "With residents shaping all facets of the dam moving forward, we can unlock its full potential to uplift lives countywide."

Speaking at the relaunch of the long-delayed Crocodile Jaw Dam project on Thursday, Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim acknowledged there are still challenges ahead but vowed to work tirelessly so construction could begin next year.

“I am under no illusions about the roadblocks still facing this project,” Governor Ibrahim stated. “There remain environmental assessments to conduct, land acquisitions to negotiate, permits to secure before the first brick is laid. And that is before we break ground on the multi-year construction phase.”

The dam project has faced previous delays due to economic, bureaucratic, and environmental planning hurdles since its conception over a decade ago. Some local community members have also voiced concerns about transparency and inclusion in the revival process.

While optimistic about the dam’s potential, the governor reiterated his commitment to inclusive development. “We want residents shaping all facets of this project as it moves forward,” he noted.

Guyo further added that he would work closely with county and national officials to navigate the complex approval procedures still required. “I intend to engage constructively with all stakeholders to advance this important initiative for Isiolo in a timely, responsible manner,” he concluded.