By Judith Ugwumadu| 01 November 2013
The African Development Bank has approved a $94.37m loan to Kenya to support phase one of its water development initiative.
This also includes a $1.85m grant, all of which will go towards the Thwake Multi-Purpose Water Development Programme, which includes the creation of a multi-purpose dam for water supply, hydropower generation and irrigation development.
The programme is expected to target broad improvements in productivity and livelihoods over a ten-year period (2013-2023), the bank said.
‘The programme recognises the symbiotic relationship between Kenya’s water secure and water insecure regions by spanning both the lower and higher levels of the economy to ensure that national economic growth is both inclusive and sustainable.’
Kenya’s Thwake multi-purpose dam is a flagship operation in its draft National Water Master Plan 2030. It is aligned to the government’s new Water Security and Climate Resilience Programme, financed by the World Bank, whose twofold focus is to enhance the institutional framework and strengthen the capacity for water security and climate resilience as well as promote irrigation.
The bank said that ‘the strategies further highlight the consequences of underinvestment in: water resources development infrastructure as a fundamental need for productive livelihoods; irrigation and hydropower developments on food and energy security; and ICT for its ability to place Kenya in a leading role of regional economic significance.’
