Drought-stricken Kenya is planning to build seven new dams, costing an estimated US$2.4 billion, through public-private partnerships.

Engineering News reports that the biggest proposed project will be the High Grand Falls dam on the Tana river, in eastern Kenya. It will have a capacity of 5.6-trillion litres and is expected to cost $1.3 billion.

With the country experiencing its worst drought in four years, President William Ruto has pledged to build 100 dams to ensure water security across the country.

Water-purchase agreements will see private investors finance, design, build and commission the facilities, and then sell bulk water to the government, which will resell it to public water companies that supply homes and farms.

The water plants will revert to state ownership once the concession period has ended.

4 April 2023
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