Building a Healthier, Resilient Kwale: Mwache Multipurpose Dam Project Ushers in Hope

By Victor Patience Oyuko 

The Mwache Multipurpose Dam project has long stood as a beacon of integrated development—where water infrastructure meets social transformation. And now, through a bold reimagining of its original plans, it is delivering on that promise in new and powerful ways.

One of the clearest testaments to this transformation is the establishment of the Mwache Health Centre in Kingango. Originally envisioned as a clinic to serve dam construction workers, this facility was rethought and repositioned to serve the wider community. The decision, which emerged from deep reflection and leadership engagement, demonstrates a conscious pivot from temporary utility to lasting impact.

How often do infrastructure projects stretch their legacy beyond steel and concrete? This centre is not just a building—it is a symbol of public investment that listens to people, adapts to real needs, and elevates collective wellbeing.

A Groundbreaking Shift in Social Investment

Behind this milestone lies a broader vision guided by the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which puts people and their everyday struggles at the centre of national development. The State Department of Irrigation, under the stewardship of Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, has shown time and again that large-scale water projects need not stand apart from social service delivery.

PS Kimotho has championed the philosophy that corporate social responsibility (CSR) must extend beyond symbolic gestures. Through the health centre and other CSR projects, the Mwache Dam has embraced its role as an enabler of health, dignity, and opportunity in a region historically underserved.

His continued emphasis on practical, community-responsive interventions reflects a leadership style that prioritizes action over rhetoric. He reiterated during the visit that this health facility was never intended to be a one-time gesture. It was an intentional realignment aimed at bringing long-term value to the people of Kwale.

Compensation and Progress

What happens when communities give way to national development? Compensation becomes not just a financial obligation but a moral one.

In this regard, PS Kimotho reassured local families that the compensation process—often fraught with delays and bureaucracy—has entered its final stages. He reported that most concerns have already been addressed through the National Land Commission, with payouts for Priority Area 3C expected to begin imminently. The remaining areas under Priority Area 3 are scheduled for July, ensuring that those displaced by the project are treated with fairness and dignity.

This clarity and consistency from the State Department of Irrigation marks a departure from the historically opaque handling of resettlement issues. It speaks to a new era of accountability and people-centred project management.

Restoring Livelihoods, Planting Hope

Even as compensation concludes, the story does not end there. PS Kimotho underscored the critical role of the Livelihoods Programme, a post-relocation initiative designed to help families rebuild.

Through sustained support and follow-up, affected households are being empowered to rise from the upheaval of displacement and chart new futures. This long-term view is rare in infrastructure development and is a key differentiator in how the Mwache project is being executed.

But what does resilience look like in practice? It looks like a fruit tree handed to a mother in Kinango. It looks like a health centre being built with the community’s future in mind. And it looks like a partnership that spans national and county governments working toward shared goals.

Partnerships That Power Transformation

Governor Fatuma Achani's remarks during the foundation stone-laying ceremony captured the spirit of this moment. She acknowledged the national government’s responsiveness, and in a particularly poignant reflection, reminded all present that tangible development is impossible without unity.

Her message was both a celebration and a call to action—urging continuity in the collaborative efforts that have brought the project this far. Her words echoed the very soul of devolution: that development must be felt on the ground, not just declared in policy documents.

The event was also attended by Hon. Gonzi Rai, MP for Kinango Constituency, Hon. Joseph Dena, Nominated MP, MCA Hamisi Kombo, and County Secretary Sylvia Chidodo, alongside other senior officers from both levels of government. Their presence added weight to the occasion, reinforcing that development is a shared responsibility, not a siloed function.

Environmental Restoration and Community Empowerment

Beyond the bricks and mortar of the health facility, a powerful green statement was made through the distribution of 5,000 fruit trees to local residents. This was not merely a gesture of goodwill—it was a strategic move under the Livelihoods Improvement Programme, executed in partnership with KCB Kenya.

Why fruit trees? Because they symbolize rootedness, regeneration, and the promise of harvest. They address both environmental sustainability and food security in one simple act. In a region grappling with climate stress and shifting rainfall patterns, this initiative is a quiet revolution in adaptation.

PS Kimotho’s presence during this exercise once again highlighted his deep investment in projects that leave no community behind. It is leadership like this that ensures irrigation and dam projects do more than channel water—they channel hope.

A Glimpse Into the Future

The delegation concluded the day with a site visit to the main Mwache Dam—a construction marvel that is quickly taking shape. But beyond the engineering feats, what stood out was the palpable energy of purpose shared by all stakeholders.

This project is not just about water. It is about rewriting the story of Kwale County. It is about honouring every resident whose land, patience, and trust have made it possible. It is about ensuring that development walks hand in hand with dignity, health, and opportunity.

And at its core, it is about delivering on the aspirations of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda—a vision of Kenya where no region is left behind and no citizen overlooked.

As Kenya continues to push the frontiers of inclusive development, the Mwache Multipurpose Dam project offers a blueprint. It is proof that when infrastructure is designed with humanity at its centre, it transforms not just landscapes—but lives.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The path forward demands consistency, transparency, and continued dialogue. It will require sustained funding, stronger monitoring, and persistent engagement with the communities at the heart of this project.

But the foundation has been laid—both literally and symbolically. The health centre in Kingango, the fruit trees now rooting in homesteads, the streamlined compensation process, and the collaborative spirit between county and national governments—all these elements signal a future that is already arriving.

In the words of Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, “It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.” In Kingango, thousands of little things are taking root.

And thanks to the leadership of PS Ephantus Kimotho and the unwavering commitment of partners on all levels, the seeds of transformation are now sown. The harvest, surely, is on its way.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko.  To buy coffee: 0708883777