The Authority signed a framework of collaboration with Dredge Masters Kenya on desilting of dams and dredging rivers prone to floods on 28th of February, 2025.
Areas of collaboration include planning, execution, and management of water infrastructure projects to enhance water storage, flood control, and environmental sustainability. The two institutions recognize the critical need for sustainable development of water reservoirs to increase water storage capacities for multipurpose use, thereby enhancing water and food security while mitigating the adverse effects of drought and floods.
Speaking during the meeting, Authority’s Chairman CPA Symon Kimaru said the two parties will leverage their respective expertise and resources in dredging operations, land reclamation, and other specialized civil works in the projects that the Authority is implementing particularly in flood control.
“With the effects of climate change, there is need to adopt use of technology and comprehensive catchment-oriented approach so as to mitigate against effects of floods through enhanced partnerships and collaboration” CPA Kimaru.
Authority’s Ag. CEO Eng. Julius Mugun, said Sedimentation in rivers is one of the main causes of floods especially in major rivers of Nyanza like river Nyando and Nzoia. The sediments gradually raise the riverbed & reduce the river’s capacity to hold and channel water in its course. Dredging will therefore alleviate this problem and restore their natural courses hence mitigate against the effects of floods.
Eng. Mugun reiterated the Authority’s mandate to harvest and store water for irrigation and multi-purpose use noting that most dams especially colonial dams have silted and resulted in less storage capacity. He cited Kiserian dam whose original capacity is 1.2 Million cubic meters (1.2 billion liters) that now holds less than a million cubic meters due to sedimentation.
“Dredging mitigates flood risks by restoring river channels and beds hence increasing water flow, clearing debris, protecting communities and the environment. This is instrumental in rehabilitation of dams to enhance their performance and storage capacity.” Eng. Julius Mugun
Dr. Samanjit; Chief Operating Officer Dredge Masters representing the Group Chairman said they shall provide specialized training and knowledge transfer to NWHSA personnel on dredging techniques and modern water infrastructure management while continuously upgrading and maintaining technical equipment to ensure optimal performance in all project activities.
On his part Dredge Masters Managing Director, Capt. Ansar Khan noted that the framework will pave way for collaboration in rehabilitation and maintenance of existing water infrastructures to ensure long-term reliability. He added that the two institutions will pursue any additional collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing the development and management of water infrastructure.
