Irrigation Drive Gets Major Boost as Government Unveils Ambitious KSh-Funded Expansion Plan

The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eric Mugaa, and the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, today appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation to present the State Department for Irrigation’s FY 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement (BPS), outlining bold plans to expand irrigation and strengthen national food security.

The Committee, chaired by Kangongo Bowen, received a comprehensive briefing on sector priorities, budget performance, and strategic investments aimed at accelerating irrigation development as a response to climate change and rising food demand.

Speaking before the Committee, CS Mugaa warned that climate change has significantly undermined the reliability of rain-fed agriculture, positioning irrigation as the most sustainable pathway to long-term food security. He underscored the Government’s Rice Intensification Programme as a cornerstone of efforts to boost domestic rice production, cut imports, and stabilize food prices.

“The FY 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement prioritizes completion of ongoing irrigation and dam projects to prevent stalled investments and maximize returns,” the CS said, urging Parliament to enhance budgetary allocations to bridge financing gaps and fast-track delivery of critical infrastructure.

Principal Secretary Kimotho outlined ambitious targets for the irrigation subsector, including expanding land under irrigation by 1.5 million acres and increasing water storage capacity by 12.4 billion cubic metres. The Department also aims to raise national paddy rice production to 700,000 metric tons.

Among key modernization initiatives are major irrigation schemes in Mwea, Bura, Ahero, Turkana and Lower Kuja. The PS noted that Mwea alone is projected to produce 205,000 metric tons of rice under the intensification programme, significantly boosting local supply.

In a move linking agriculture to social development, the Department plans to equip 2,486 public schools with boreholes, greenhouses, and micro-irrigation systems to strengthen school feeding programmes, enhance agricultural learning, and improve community resilience.

Additionally, 10,000 acres of irrigation schemes will be rehabilitated, while expanded support for community and farmer-led irrigation initiatives is expected to raise productivity and household incomes across rural areas.

The Government also plans to construct 20 irrigation dams nationwide to enhance water harvesting, drought resilience, and year-round agricultural production.

Among the flagship projects is the Galana (Athi) Dam, expected to unlock approximately 180,000 acres downstream under a Public Private Partnership framework within the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project. Preparatory works are also ongoing for 20 mega dams, including Kieni, Daua, Barsalinga, Ura, Radat, Lowaat, Yatta, Narumoru, Thuci, Kithino and Thwake downstream.

Once completed, the projects are expected to significantly expand irrigated agriculture, create employment opportunities, strengthen climate resilience in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and firmly position irrigation as a central pillar of Kenya’s long-term food security and agro-industrial transformation agenda.