No mega dams completed yet despite government pledge, Water CS Eric Mugaa
He explained that most of these projects were intended to be delivered through public-private partnerships (PPPs). However, the water sector has struggled to attract private investors due to the low profitability of such ventures.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa has told Parliament that none of the mega dam projects promised by the government has been completed to date, despite the administration’s ambitious target to construct 100 mega dams nationwide.
Appearing before the House on Wednesday, Mugaa said that while several dam projects are currently under construction, financial constraints have significantly slowed progress, particularly for large-scale developments.
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He explained that most of these projects were intended to be delivered through public-private partnerships (PPPs). However, the water sector has struggled to attract private investors due to the low profitability of such ventures.
“Water infrastructure is not cheap; it is capital intensive,” said the CS.
“Most of the large dams were scheduled to be implemented under public-private partnerships. Unfortunately, investments in water have not been very lucrative… Our tariffs are not cost-reflective,” Mugaa added.
He confirmed that although a few large dam projects are ongoing, none are complete.
“For large dams, we have not completed any of them,” Mugaa told MPs. He promised to provide a list of smaller dams that have made progress and could present a clearer picture of the sector’s achievements.
His comments echoed similar remarks made by former Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome in August 2023.
At the time, Wahome told the Senate that the ministry was grappling with financial limitations that were undermining President William Ruto’s pledge to deliver 100 mega dams.
Despite these challenges, the President has continued to reaffirm his commitment to the plan.
During a national address on the same day Wahome appeared before the Senate, President Ruto announced that the government had already initiated the process by advertising for the construction of 33 dams.
“Our stretch is to do 100 mega dams, to construct close to 1,000 small dams, and nearly 3,800 water pans across the country,” the President said during the live broadcast.
The pledge to build dams was one of the central pillars of President Ruto’s campaign agenda. His administration had planned to collaborate with the private sector to fund and implement these projects. However, the sector’s limited profitability has become a major obstacle.
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