Residents of Taita Taveta County will have to wait much longer before the multi-billion shilling Mzima Two water project comes to fruition, contrary to earlier assurances made by the national government. The delay deals a heavy blow to local communities who have been eagerly anticipating a permanent solution to the region’s long-standing water issues.
The county’s Senator, Jones Mwaruma, revealed that the national government has shifted its immediate focus to completing the multi-billion Mwache Dam project in neighboring Kwale County. This strategic pivot is intended to address the coastal region’s biting water scarcity by prioritizing infrastructure that is closer to completion.
Mwaruma explained that under the current state strategy, once the Mwache Dam is fully operational and filled, the water from the existing Mzima One pipeline which currently supplies a heavy volume to Kwale will be shut off from that route. Instead, that supply will be redirected entirely to Taita Taveta to boost local distribution for residents who have endured decades of shortages.
In addition to shifting priorities, the lawmaker cited severe funding shortfalls and inflated procurement costs as the primary bottlenecks stalling the Mzima Two infrastructure layout. The financial hurdles have made it impossible to move forward with the project under the current economic framework.
According to Mwaruma, the contracting firms that submitted bids to execute the mega-project quoted exorbitant amounts that far exceed what the national government has currently secured or allocated within its budget estimates. This massive budgetary gap has effectively put the project’s timeline on indefinite hold.
As the chronic water crisis continues to disrupt livelihoods across Taita Taveta, all eyes now remain fixed on the national government. Observers and locals alike are waiting to see how fast these alternative distribution strategies will yield tangible relief for the residents.
