Construction of Irangi dam to start this year

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki and Mbeere South MP Geoffrey King'ang'i during a forum at Mutuovare market in Mbeere South, Embu County, before she kicked off issuance of 225 bags of rice and beans as relief food on July 29, 2019. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

The Government plans to construct a mega dam to support irrigation in semi-arid Mbeere South region.

The Thuci dam, which will have an intake in Mt Kenya forest, will supply water to Manyatta and Mbeere South constituencies.

The dam is among the four that the Jubilee government is planning to construct to support irrigation in Embu and neighbouring counties.

The dams are aimed at addressing food security.

The other dams to be constructed are Kamumu, Rupingazi and Thabana.

Mbeere South MP Geoffrey Kingángí said the Government has already allocated money for the dam, with the contractor expected to start work later in the year.

“When the Thuci dam and other water projects we have embarked on are complete, the hardworking people of Mbeere will be able to practise irrigation farming of food crops and cash crops,” he said.