The Authority has harvested and stored water using dams, pans, boreholes and masonry tanks. We have constructed several large, medium and small dams and pans, canals, boreholes and masonry tanks.

Summary of total water storage by NWHSA and populations served

Complete Large Dams

 Chemususu Dam- Baringo

Maruba Dam- Machakos

Kiserian Dam- Kajiado

Large Dams- Construction Ongoing

Siyoi-Muruny’ Dam- West Pokot

Soin- Koru Dam- Kisumu & Kericho

Umaa Dam- Kitui

Complete Medium Dams

Kirandich Dam- Baringo

Naku’etum (Peace) Dam- Turkana

Kalundu Dam- Kitui

Large Dams under Planning & Design

Isiolo Dam- Laikipia, Isiolo & Samburu

Bosto Dam- Bomet

Upper Narok Dam- Narok

Nyahururu Dam – Nakuru

Rumuruti Dam-  Laikipia

Igembe North Dam – Meru

Londiani Dam- Kericho

Rare dam-   Kilifi

Pesi dam      Nyandarua

Kinale dam  Kiambu

Kitiri dam    Nakuru

Complete Small Dams and pans

1,029 across the country especially in ASAL areas

The dams store water between 10,000 to 30,000 m3

Boreholes

Over 2000 boreholes across the country including water for schools

Some implemented through collaboration with the county governments e.g. Napuu water project in Turkana.

Masonry Tanks- Laikipia East

• 4 tanks in Wiyumiririe 225m3
• 3 tanks in Nturukuma 225M3

Flood Control

We have constructed both earth and gabion dykes along the main rivers in Nyanza, and other parts of the country such as Kawalase in Turkana and Sabwani in Kitale. With the effects of climate change where we are experiencing increased rainfall and lake backflow, we have proposed more kilometers of dykes along major rivers prone to floods and other flood control systems such as river training and check dams. River training involves works such as dredging or desilting, draining storm water and cutting meanders so that the river channels flows smoothly in its right course.

Check dams

Check dams are water infrastructure built across rivers or water channels to slow down the flow of water. The main objective of these dams is to control and prevent floods, reduce soil erosion and recharge groundwater. We have constructed two check dams near Narok town; Mukuru mbili and Oloipito Ilmasharian. These dams managed to control any flooding within Narok town during the recent heavy rains. The construction of Osonini Check dam is ongoing while five more check dams have been proposed along rivers Esampurmpur and Kakiya to tame floods in Narok.

Budalangi Flood control in Busia

This project is being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation through the Kenya Water Security & Climate Resilience Program (KWSCRP). NWHSA is part of the team that is executing the project.

The Proposed project entails improvement of about 34 km (17 Km on each bank) on both banks of the lower parts of Nzoia River (from the Ruambwa Bridge towards Lake Victoria.

Mapping of flood prone areas.

The Authority has and continues to map out flood prone areas. It has proposed mitigation measures in specific areas, some of which have been implemented and other await funding.

The mapping exercise informs design of future projects or upgrade of the existing systems and proposes new projects.

Long term solutions for flood control?

• Soin-Koru Dam for a lasting solution to Nyando floods.
• Radat Dam for a lasting solution to Perkerra floods.
• Proposed check dams and water storage dams, river training and other flood control systems along major rivers such as Tana, Nzoia, Sondu Miriu, Awach Tende, Kuja, Yala among others.

One of the key pillars of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) is Agriculture which is the backbone of food security. It is therefore our role to provide water which is a key enabler of BETA.