The Northern Collector Tunnel: Years Of Missed Deadlines Gov’t Now Says Project At 97 Per Cent

MURANG’A,Kenya,Apr, 1 – When the ambitious Northern Collector Tunnel water project was officially commissioned by president Uhuru Kenyatta back in 2015, it was described as an end to the country’s capital Nairobi and neighboring town’s perennial water problem.

The project was to be implemented within six years from January 2014 to December 2021 with total funding of Sh26 billion. The amount is however said to have risen following delays and several other factors.

On Thursday during a tour of the project,acting Cabinet Secretary for Water, James Macharia said the the project is 97 per cent complete and that it would now be completed by July.

The water tunnel is expected to channel water to the Ndakaini dam.

“The demand for water in Nairobi stands at 810 million daily and we are able to supply 560 million litres,” said Macharia.

Upon completion the tunnel is expected to cut down the deficit of water supplied to Nairobi by 50 per cent amidst the current shortage of 260 million litres of water used daily in the city and it’s environs.

“The tunnel is supposed to channel 140 million litres to the Ndakaini reservoir and this shall help boost the supply to Nairobi,” he added.

The project has three main components: the tunnel,water treatment plant and the pipelines.

Ndakaini Dam, Ngethu treatment plant and Sasumua are the main suppliers of water to Nairobi. Ruiru 1 Dam and Kikuyu Springs also contribute to the water supply in Nairobi.

Nairobi is said to have been experiencing water rationing since April 2017.

The Auditor General had expressed concerns over delays in completion of the project.

The recent deadline for completion of the project was January,31, 2022.

“As a result of the delay, the project is unlikely to fully achieve the intended objectives for the public,” said Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in the report for the year ending June 2021.

Government disbursement of money for the project is said to have affected completion of the project.