Ministry unveils Sh600-billion plan to revive stalled irrigation projects

By Kosuri Valarie (KNA)

The Government has earmarked Sh600 billion to revive 34 stalled irrigation and water projects across the country in a major push to boost food production, enhance climate resilience and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho said the projects, some dating back to the colonial era, form part of a national strategy to expand Kenya’s irrigated land to 1.5 million acres and strengthen food and nutrition security.

Speaking after concluding public participation forums for the proposed Kapnyemis and Ndubenet irrigation projects in Nandi County, Kimotho said the government is committed to increasing access to water for agriculture and supporting communities vulnerable to changing weather patterns.

“The government is committed to expanding irrigation, strengthening climate resilience and improving food and nutrition security through reliable access to water,” he said.

The public participation forums, held in Nandi Hills, Emgwen and Aldai Constituencies, brought together residents, farmers, local leaders and technical teams from the National Irrigation Authority to discuss the proposed projects and their expected benefits.

Kimotho revealed that 15 water projects had been initiated in Nandi County and were expected to benefit more than 30,000 residents.

At Kapnyemis in Ollessos Ward, the government plans to rehabilitate the existing dam, construct a water storage tank and install a reticulation system to support irrigation on approximately 150 acres.

The project is projected to benefit about 900 households by enabling farmers to grow high-value crops, diversify agricultural production and integrate crop and livestock farming. It will also support school kitchen gardens aimed at improving nutrition.

Meanwhile, the Ndubenet project in Emgwen Constituency will involve desilting an 86-acre reservoir, stabilising embankments, constructing a spillway, installing concrete intake structures and developing a 30-kilometre water distribution network.

Once completed, the infrastructure is expected to support irrigation on about 928 acres, expanding agricultural production and reducing farmers’ vulnerability to erratic rainfall.

"The projects will increase agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities and boost household incomes in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," the PS said.

He added that involving communities in project planning and implementation would enhance accountability, ownership and sustainable management of the water infrastructure.