Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has called for a rapid expansion of irrigation across Kenya, warning that the country cannot continue relying on increasingly unreliable rainfall to feed a growing population.

Kagwe spoke in Bamba, Kilifi County, where he launched the KSh79 million rehabilitation of the Ndigiria Water Pan, describing the project as part of the Government’s wider strategy to increase water storage, expand irrigation and strengthen national food security.

The CS said Kenya’s population is growing while the country’s landmass remains fixed, making it necessary to increase productivity on available agricultural land.

“The population is growing and that does not mean the size of Kenya will increase. It is therefore important that we have water available to match that growth and feed our population,” Kagwe said.

He said the country must urgently shift from dependence on rain-fed agriculture by investing in dams, water pans, river-water harvesting and deep boreholes to ensure farmers have reliable water throughout the year.

Kagwe warned against allowing large volumes of rainwater runoff to go to waste during rainy seasons only for communities to experience water shortages and food insecurity during dry periods.

“Kenya cannot continue depending on rain alone to feed its people. We must have water available for agriculture so that farmers can produce whether it rains or not,” he said.

Ndigiria project to boost irrigation

The Ndigiria Water Pan, established in 1963, is being rehabilitated to restore its water storage capacity and support a 50-acre smallholder irrigation scheme.

The project is expected to directly benefit more than 100 farmers, while reaching an estimated 4,026 indirect beneficiaries and providing water for approximately 15,398 livestock.

Implemented under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), the rehabilitation will involve desilting and stabilising the water pan, fencing, construction of an intake structure, installation of pumping units and distribution pipelines, balancing tanks, solar power systems and farm irrigation infrastructure.

Kagwe said the Government's objective was not merely to store water but to convert it into food, jobs and household incomes.

He urged farmers to diversify their production by combining food crops with commercially viable crops to improve food security while creating additional sources of income.

Farmers benefiting from the scheme will also receive seeds, extension services and technical support.

Contractor ordered to speed up works

Kagwe directed the contractor to implement the rehabilitation in phases to ensure residents continue accessing water during construction.

He also ordered the contractor to accelerate the works so that the rehabilitated pan can capture maximum runoff during the coming rainy season.

The CS directed that livestock watering points be separated from the irrigation facility to protect the scheme and improve its sustainability.

He further instructed the contractor to prioritise local residents for available employment opportunities during implementation.

Kagwe also called for the grading of the road leading to the water pan, saying irrigation infrastructure must be supported by reliable roads to enable farmers to transport their produce to markets.

He pledged to champion the improvement of the wider Bamba road network at Cabinet level.

Farmers to access financing

The project also comes with a financial empowerment component, with Kagwe handing over KSh30.5 million to eight local SACCOs to strengthen farmers' access to affordable financing.

Principal Secretary for Cooperatives Development Patrick Kilemi said strong cooperatives would help farmers aggregate their produce, access markets, secure financing and negotiate better prices.

Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Mbetsa Chibule urged residents to take ownership of the project and protect the infrastructure to ensure it benefits the community for generations.

Kagwe said Ndigiria is part of a broader Government strategy that includes major irrigation initiatives such as Galana-Kulalu, alongside investments in dams, community water pans, river-water harvesting and groundwater development.

The Government is seeking to capture and store water when it is available and channel it into agricultural production throughout the year.

Kagwe said expanding irrigation would help reduce the impact of drought and failed rains, protect farmers from crop losses, support livestock production and create new opportunities for rural households.

The CS was accompanied by Deputy Governor Chibule, PS Kilemi, county agriculture officials and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

With Kenya's population continuing to rise, Kagwe said expanding irrigation and making better use of available water resources will be critical to ensuring the country can produce enough food from its limited land.