Government agency overseeing Kenya's irrigation development and expansion programmes, including the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan targeting one million new irrigated acres by 2035.
… r land and invest confidently in agricultural activities," said Kimotho.The bridges, each a double-span 20-metre reinforced concrete girder structure, are set for completion within six months, ahead of the one-year contract period, according to the State Department for Irrigation …
… The State Department for Irrigation, through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), has unveiled a roadmap that seeks to increase the area under irrigation from 664,000 acres recorded in the 2021/2022 financial year to 1.29 million acres by the 2027/2028 financia …
… The State Department for Irrigation is expected to play a key role in implementing the planned projects as the government seeks to expand irrigation infrastructure and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
… The State Department for Irrigation commissioned the National Baseline Survey for Rice Production on Thursday under the Rice Deficit Reduction Programme.Irrigation Secretary in charge of Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management, Joel Tanui, led the lau …
… The State Department for Irrigation said the 2017 policy fell behind sector reforms and operational changes, leading to duplication of roles and coordination challenges among agencies. …
The government is developing a water management project to harness excess water from the Lake Baringo–Lake Bogoria basin for agricultural irrigation. Officials from the Irrigation and Defence ministries have held consultations and technical assessments, with preliminary findings suggesting the excess water could be conveyed to areas with irrigation development potential.
The government is developing a water management project to harness excess water from the Lake Baringo–Lake Bogoria basin for agricultural irrigation. Officials from the Irrigation and Defence ministries have held consultations and technical assessments, with preliminary findings suggesting the excess water could be conveyed to areas with irrigation development potential.
The government is developing a plan to divert excess water from Lake Baringo, which has risen 12 to 14 metres over 15 years, into a large-scale irrigation scheme covering about 100,000 acres in Baringo and potentially Turkana counties. Engineers would build a dyke to prevent saline water from Lake Bogoria from mixing with Baringo's fresh water, then channel the excess through tunnels and canals under a private-sector investment model projected to generate close to Sh40 billion in economic value.
Kenya has drafted a new Land Reclamation Bill, 2026, to reclaim degraded land nationwide and build a legal framework for restoring degraded land while halting further degradation. The Bill seeks to enhance food and water security, strengthen climate resilience, promote environmental sustainability, and set up institutional, regulatory and financing mechanisms to guide ecosystem restoration and attract investment in land reclamation projects.
A Sh288.6 million government-funded irrigation project in Moiben Constituency has brought 280 acres under irrigation, allowing more than 700 Uasin Gishu households to grow crops year-round and reduce weather-related losses. The scheme is expected to generate about Sh70 million annually from agricultural production.
The Irrigation Principal Secretary announced the government's commitment to expand irrigation infrastructure in Nyandarua County through the Gwa Kiongo Irrigation Project, which will bring 500 acres under irrigation across two phases and enable up to three cropping seasons a year for more than 1,000 farmers. Officials distributed 20,000 fish fingerlings to promote aquaculture as part of efforts to diversify livelihoods and boost food security.
The government has committed to expanding irrigation across the country through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) 2025–2035, which aims to expand irrigation by one million acres, optimise productivity in existing public schemes, strengthen farmer-led irrigation, and unlock greater private sector investment.
The government has committed to expanding irrigation across the country through a 10-year National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (2025–2035) that aims to expand irrigation by one million acres, optimise productivity in existing public schemes, strengthen farmer-led irrigation, and unlock private sector investment as part of efforts to strengthen food security and build climate resilience.
The government aims to expand irrigated land by one million acres over the next decade under the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan 2025-2035, seeking to bridge the gap between Kenya's irrigation potential of more than 3.35 million acres and the current coverage of about 762,000 acres.
The State Department for Irrigation has secured €20 million (approximately Ksh.3 billion) from Germany to support smallholder irrigation development across seven counties, negotiated during Government-to-Government Development Cooperation talks in Berlin.
Kenya has secured German support to expand smallholder irrigation projects across seven counties in western Kenya's Lake Region Economic Bloc, following bilateral talks in Berlin. The deal builds on a German-backed programme in the Mount Kenya region that has increased agricultural production and farmer incomes.
The government has launched construction of the Ksh.55 million Hirimani Bridges in Bura Irrigation Scheme, Tana River County, and issued Green Cards covering more than 2,000 acres to 720 farming families to improve irrigation infrastructure and secure land ownership.
The government has allocated Sh55 million to build two bridges at the Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County and issued land ownership cards to 720 farming families covering more than 2,000 acres. The bridges are expected to cut travel time within the scheme, improve surveillance during rainy season, and reduce flooding.
Kenya plans to nearly double the acreage under irrigation from 664,000 acres in 2021/2022 to 1.29 million acres by 2027/2028, according to the State Department for Irrigation's National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan. The expansion is aimed at enhancing food security, increasing agricultural productivity, creating jobs, and building resilience against climate change.
President Ruto highlighted irrigation's role in strengthening food security during Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir County, announcing the government's water infrastructure programme of 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams, and thousands of micro-dams across the country.
Kenya's government has commissioned a national baseline survey on rice production to address an annual rice deficit of 700,000 metric tonnes and reduce imports costing more than Sh56 billion. The survey will assess acreage, irrigation infrastructure, water availability, mechanisation, seed varieties, and other factors across major rice-producing schemes as part of the Rice Deficit Reduction Programme.
Kenya has launched a review of its 2017 National Irrigation Policy after acknowledging that the framework failed to keep pace with sector reforms including the 2019 Irrigation Act and restructuring of the National Irrigation Board. The review aims to eliminate duplication, close institutional gaps, strengthen governance and improve coordination in irrigation development.
Kenya is deepening its partnership with the World Bank to expand water access and improve agricultural productivity under a national development plan centred on irrigation. A meeting between Kenya's Principal Secretary for Irrigation and World Bank officials reviewed the Kenya Sustainable Irrigation for Resilient Economy programme, which includes farmer-led irrigation development, public and community schemes, and water security initiatives.