Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has accused President William Ruto of failing to deliver on promises made over the Thwake Dam project, claiming that no meaningful progress has been made since the Kenya Kwanza administration assumed office.

Speaking during an interview with a local station on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in sharp criticism directed at the government, Maanzo said residents of the Lower Eastern region were still waiting for action on the multi-billion-shilling dam project despite repeated commitments from the President over the last three years.

“Since President Ruto came to power, nothing has been done in Thwake Dam. The President has made so many promises and he has not kept them,” Maanzo said, escalating pressure on the government over delays surrounding one of Kenya’s flagship water projects.

The senator argued that continued delays had frustrated thousands of residents in Makueni, Kitui and Machakos counties who were expecting the project to boost water supply, irrigation, power generation and food security.

Project seen as key to regional development

The Thwake Dam project remains one of Kenya’s flagship Vision 2030 infrastructure programmes, with expectations that once completed, it will support irrigation development, hydropower generation and supply treated water to an estimated 1.3 million people across the Lower Eastern region.

Maanzo’s remarks now raise fresh political scrutiny over whether the government will meet earlier timelines communicated to the public regarding the dam’s completion.

State had promised completion timeline

The criticism comes against earlier government assurances that the project was nearing completion. In April 2024, Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Julius Korir said the first phase of Thwake Dam had reached 92 per cent completion, adding that President Ruto was expected to officially commission the project before the end of that year.

However, the project has previously faced setbacks, including legal disputes involving contractor China Gezhouba Group Company Limited, which in 2023 challenged a High Court ruling ordering payment of Ksh682.76 million to local subcontractor JTG Enterprises following a contract dispute.

The renewed criticism is likely to intensify pressure on the government as residents continue waiting for the long-promised mega dam project to become operational.