President William Ruto's campaign promise to have 1,000 dams constructed across the country may not be achieved since not a single unit has been completed in almost three years into his leadership.
Water Cabinet Secretary Erick Mugaa, who appeared before the Senate plenary, told Senators that most of the planned dam projects were to be done through the Public Private Partnership, which has yet to attract potential investors.
Mugaa admitted the water sector has failed to attract the expected level of private investment from various investors in order to actualise what was considered one of Ruto's flagship projects to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of water across the country, which now looks untenable. "I would like to inform Senators that large dams were to be constructed under the Public Private Partnerships model; however, investments in the water sector have not been successful.
Water tariffs are not cost-recovery, which has made the sector not attractive to investors," said Muuga.
