11th September 2020 – The Principal Secretary Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Joseph Irungu Wairagu witnessed the river diversion of Karimenu river downstream to allow construction works on the main dam area to proceed which marks the latest milestone in the construction of Karimenu II Dam Water Supply Project in Gatundu North, Kiambu County. The dam has a reservoir capacity of 26,540,000 cubic meters and will serve more than one million residents of Juja, Ruiru, Gatundu North and Nairobi.

The project which is being implemented by Athi Water Works Development Agency involves construction of a 59 metre high dam, 70 million litres per day water treatment plant, laying of more than 60km of raw and treated water transmission pipelines and the construction of 23.5 million litres and 3 million litres reinforced concrete water storage tanks in Ruiru and Juja respectively.

Currently, river diversion works are complete with the diversion tunnel 100% complete and cofferdam works are at 5 % complete; construction of the spillway is at 35% and earthworks for the spillway is 90% complete. Works are ongoing on the dam foundation treatment which started on 1st July, 2020. The project is 18% complete and on course to be completed in 2022.

The project is celebrating a significant milestone after successful completion of the river diversion tunnel works subsequently leading to diversion of Karimenu River downstream through the tunnel. The river diversion will provide room for construction works on the main dam area. Upon completion of the dam construction, the Diversion tunnel will provide a channel for raw water transmission pipeline from the dam.

The PS was accompanied by MWSI Water Secretary Eng. S.A.O Alima, Gatundu North MP Hon. Wanjiku Kibe, AWWDA Manager Water Works Eng. Bonnie Nyandwaro, Gatundu Water MD Patrick Mwangi among other senior officials.