1,000 acres set for development under Ahero irrigation revamp

CHRIS MAHANDARA-KNA

The Government has partnered with the Republic of Hungary to rehabilitate and expand the Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Nyando, Kisumu County, in a Sh650 million project expected to unlock 1,000 acres for irrigated agriculture in Kobong’o.

The project, being implemented by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), will convert the Ahero pumping station into a solar-powered hybrid system, reducing reliance on the national grid and cutting operational costs that have weighed heavily on farmers.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the investment was a major step towards boosting rice production in Nyanza and narrowing Kenya’s rice deficit, currently estimated at 700,000 metric tonnes annually.

“Nyanza alone has the potential to produce up to 420,000 metric tonnes if we fully utilise the irrigation potential in this region,” Mbadi said during the launch in Kobong’o, Nyando Sub-County.

“What has been missing is affordable and reliable infrastructure. With this intervention, we are addressing that gap,” he added.

Under the first phase, 625 acres have been earmarked for large-scale rice production, with the remaining 375 acres set to be developed in the 2026/2027 financial year through an additional Sh50 million allocation by the National Government. 

Speaking during the same occasion, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eng Eric Mugaa said the Kobong’o expansion was part of broader efforts to revitalise the larger Ahero irrigation scheme, which currently has over 2,300 acres under irrigation.

He noted that recent installation of a new pump at West Kano had unlocked more than 1,000 acres previously affected by backflow from Lake Victoria, demonstrating the impact of targeted infrastructure upgrades.

“Irrigated agriculture is predictable and sure. It gives farmers certainty compared to rain-fed farming, which is vulnerable to climate variability,” Eng Mugaa said, adding that the government was encouraging diversification into high-value horticultural crops to boost farmers’ incomes.

The Hungary-funded project is a turnkey arrangement financed through a five-million-dollar tied-aid credit facility from Budapest.

It includes a 500-kilowatt-peak grid-tied solar power system for the pumping station, rehabilitation of intake works on River Nyando, replacement of two ageing pumps, installation of a new high-capacity pump, riverbank protection and development of a water distribution network for the initial 625 acres.

Hungary’s Ambassador to Kenya, Katalin Nyirati, said her country was keen to support irrigation because of its central role in food security and climate resilience.

“Agriculture is very important to Hungary, and we understand the challenges farmers face due to climate change. Irrigation provides safety, security and independence for farmers,” she said.