Mudavadi: Daua River Dam to boost agriculture and livelihoods in Northern Kenya

Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) Musalia Mudavadi has underscored the significance of the Daua River Basin, describing it as a vital resource for over three million people living in the drought-prone Mandera Triangle, a region spanning Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

The basin plays a critical role in supporting irrigation, livestock, and local livelihoods across the tri-border area.

PCS Mudavadi met with Mandera County leaders, including Governor Mohamed Ali Khalif, alongside officials from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and national government representatives, to discuss progress on plans for Kenya’s second-largest dam.

The proposed Daua River Dam, projected to hold 2 billion cubic metres of water, will encompass the 160 km riverine ecosystem covering approximately 9,000 km².

Once completed, the dam is expected to irrigate around 1.2 million acres, contributing to food security in northern Kenya and potentially benefiting the country more broadly.

Speaking on the sidelines of an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, PCS Mudavadi said he plans to engage Ethiopian government officials to align efforts and accelerate the construction of the project.

He emphasised that the dam, under the Daua River Basin Initiative, aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation, regional resilience, and local livelihoods.

Also present at the discussions were Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya, and Mohamed Guleid, Coordinator of the North and Northeast Development Initiative (NEDI).

PCS Mudavadi described the project as a transformative initiative that will support sustainable water management, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve livelihoods in one of East Africa’s most drought-affected regions.