President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing relationship with Italy, highlighting renewed cooperation aimed at delivering real economic and social benefits for citizens of both countries. In a message shared on his social media platforms, the President noted that Kenya and Italy continue to enjoy warm diplomatic ties grounded in mutual respect and shared priorities. He made the remarks after hosting the Italian Ambassador to Kenya, Vincenzo Del Monaco, at State House in Nairobi, where they held wide-ranging discussions on deepening bilateral collaboration.
According to President Ruto, the meeting focused on practical areas of partnership that directly impact livelihoods, including support for Kenya’s coffee and leather value chains. The two leaders also explored opportunities for collaboration in the development of technical and vocational training institutions, with a strong emphasis on equipping young people with relevant skills to drive industrial growth and employment. In addition, the talks addressed the need to accelerate the implementation of stalled and pending programmes, among them the long-awaited Itare Dam project.
The Itare Dam Water Supply Project is one of Kenya’s most significant water infrastructure initiatives, located in Nakuru County and designed to ease persistent water shortages in the region. Once completed, the dam is expected to supply water to more than 800,000 residents across areas such as Molo, Njoro and Rongai, while also supporting agricultural irrigation. The project, valued at between KSh 34 billion and KSh 38 billion, was halted in 2019 following the bankruptcy of the original contractor, CMC di Ravenna, after about a quarter of the construction work had been completed.
Currently, the government is working to restructure and revive the project, with plans underway to either re-engage the initial contractor or appoint a new one to complete the remaining works. The dam is designed to deliver over 100,000 cubic metres of water per day, significantly improving water security and helping to manage flooding in the region. President Ruto’s engagement with Italy signals renewed momentum to fast-track the project, underscoring its importance to Nakuru County’s development and Kenya’s broader water and infrastructure goals.
