Govt flags Tana River contractors over slow dam projects execution ahead of El Niño

Government officials have flagged several contracting firms in Tana River County over the slow progress on dam projects before the impending El Niño rains. At a meeting in Garsen Constituency on September 23, 2026, Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa emphasized the need for contractors to speed up construction and complete the work before the onset of heavy rains. He cautioned that delays could jeopardize the government's plans to collect rainwater and prepare communities for potential flooding.

Mugaa urged contractors to recruit more workers, allocate additional resources, and deploy more equipment on the job sites, working within the available weather window. He warned that El Niño could catch the government off guard if they were unprepared. The flooding risk is particularly high in the lower Tana River and surrounding areas, including Wajir, where water levels can surge during heavy rainfall events.

Earlier in the month, on September 15, Mugaa issued a similar warning to residents living along the Tana River in Tana River and Garissa counties, urging them to prepare for potential floods and relocate to higher ground if necessary. Two dams, Garsen's Minjila and Shifa, each costing Ksh50 million, are currently under construction. The government is also undertaking dike construction to safeguard communities from flooding.

Mugaa engaged in a high-level discussion with World Bank Regional Practice Director Anna Wellenstein and her team in Nairobi. They reviewed the progress of World Bank-supported water, sanitation, and irrigation programs, such as the Mwache Dam in Kwale County and the Horn of Africa Groundwater Resilience Programme in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties.

They also assessed the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project and the Kenya Resilience Irrigation for Sustainable Economies (K-RISE) program, aimed at enhancing water security, boosting food production, and expanding irrigation. These meetings come as Kenya intensifies its preparations for the anticipated effects of El Niño and other climate-related risks on the country's water and irrigation infrastructure.