President Ruto launches major irrigation projects in Embu County to boost food security

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho highlighted that the government has invested Ksh.3.49 billion on irrigation projects in Embu county, five (5) which are complete putting 5,300 acres under irrigation and ten (ongoing) with potential to put 3,906 acres under irrigation.

 The anticipated outcome of these irrigation projects to improve food security, job creation along the agricultural value chain and enhance farmer’s resilience to erratic rainfall patterns occasioned by climate change.

The attention of the president was specifically drawn to the progress on Thuci Social Dam which is among the 100 dams under the Kenya Kwanza government.

PS Irrigation indicated a private partner is in consultation to submit Privately Initiated Investment Proposal (PIIP) to develop the dam under BOT PPP model.

The height of the dam 84 meters will have a water storage is 23 Million Cubic Meters potential of expanding area under irrigation in Embu County by 16,309 acres supporting more than 7000 farmers and provide power generation at 40MGW per hour.

President Ruto highlighted the irrigation potential to transform the agricultural landscape in the country reiterating that the government will continue investing in irrigation infrastructure to expand agricultural land under irrigation.

The State Department for irrigation has progressed well on increasing land under irrigation in the last one year putting additional 47,000 acres under irrgation and has also made progress on Public Private Partnerships on water storage and flood control and also toward food production. 

The Galana Kulalu Food Security project which is being done through PPP, a private conducted model farm on 536 acres recording tremendous success of 35 bags per acre, said Irrigation Principal Secretary said on a national media interview.

Mr Kimotho also outlined that Galana Dam which is being developed under PPP, a private investor has concluded their technical studies for a dam with capacity of 350million m3 with potential of putting over 200,000 acres under irrigation in Galana Kulalu. 

The project will unlock national deficit on maize value chain by producing 14 million bags of maize reducing deficit by 40% and stabilizing Unga prices. 

Last year, the State Department for Irrigation signed a Project Development Phase for the High Grand Falls dam with a private investor to build operate and transfer High Grand Falls Dam project.

 The 5600 MCM Dam to be constructed in Kitui, Tharaka Nithi and Tana River counties will irrigate 400,000 acres and generate 1,000 Megawats of hydropower and control flood along tana river in Garissa and Tana river counties. 

Other dams which has progressed under the PPP include Lowaat Dam, Radat Dam, Gogo dam, and Isiolo dam. Kyakivai, Kaiti, kithinu, Olenkirionito, Karimeno, Naromoru, Mara, Rwabura, Thiririka, Thingithu and Kaben dams are also set to be implemented under the PPP programs. 

As Kenya continues to focus on sustainable development and economic empowerment, irrigation projects stand as beacons of hope and progress toward food security and resilience to climate change.