Why Kenya and Ethiopia Are Partnering with IGAD on Irrigation

By Victor Patience Oyuko 

Why would Kenya and Ethiopia, two nations with diverse needs but shared challenges, rally under IGAD for a cross-border irrigation initiative? The answer lies in the strategic vision to transform the Daua River Basin into a springboard for food security, water control, and socio-economic integration. Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho took part in a critical bilateral meeting under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to breathe new life into these plans.

This engagement marked a significant moment: the resumption of deliberations on the Daua River Basin Development Initiatives. As PS Kimotho emphasized during the forum, the focus was not only on local development but also on broader regional cohesion. The initiative represents a perfect convergence of Kenya and Ethiopia's shared interests with IGAD's mission of sustainable regional integration.

Harnessing the Power of the Daua River

The Daua River, forming part of the tri-border between Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, sustains thousands of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities. However, it has remained largely untapped. Why has such a critical transboundary resource been underutilized for so long? It is now clear that through collaborative planning, it can become a game-changer.

The central goal is ambitious yet achievable: to construct a dam that will control seasonal flooding, irrigate 120,000 acres, generate hydroelectric power, and open up immense economic potential. This project is not merely about infrastructure. It is about transforming lives across arid and semi-arid regions of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.

As a leader in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, PS Kimotho has consistently championed initiatives that align with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. By addressing water scarcity and improving access to agricultural resources, this initiative fits squarely into Kenya's broader policy of empowering communities from the grassroots up.

The Role of Transboundary Collaboration

What makes this initiative especially impactful is its transboundary nature. The Daua River does not adhere to man-made borders. Its utility—and potential risk—transcends national jurisdictions. With its seasonal floods and limited regulation, communities along its banks have suffered avoidable losses and unrealized opportunities.

Thus, the meeting highlighted the importance of finalizing the Daua River Master Plan and strengthening related transboundary water initiatives. PS Kimotho reiterated that these steps are not just technical exercises but pathways to unlock much-needed resource mobilization. Once in place, they will facilitate sustainable harnessing of water resources and equitable benefit-sharing between the two nations.

This regional approach underpins Kenya's commitment to diplomatic cooperation and long-term planning. It's also a recognition that shared resources demand shared responsibility—a principle IGAD has long championed.

Building Bridges—Literally and Figuratively

One of the standout elements of the deliberations was the proposal to construct two key bridges across the Daua River at Rhamu and Suftu. These physical connections will improve the movement of goods and people, significantly enhancing access to healthcare, education, and marketplaces.

Beyond steel and concrete, these bridges symbolize a greater ideological shift: bridging development gaps between border communities, improving regional access, and promoting equity across underserved regions. For PS Kimotho, these initiatives are about unlocking opportunity for areas long marginalized from mainstream national development.

Indeed, building infrastructure across such regions is not just a logistical move—it is a moral imperative. It aligns with the values of inclusion, empowerment, and equitable growth that form the heart of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Trade and Connectivity: A New Economic Lifeline

The construction of bridges is complemented by discussions to establish One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) at Rhamu and a Trade Facilitation Center at Suftu. These proposals represent a forward-thinking strategy aimed at enhancing trade, minimizing logistical bottlenecks, and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Why is this significant? Because economic growth depends not just on producing goods, but also on the efficiency of moving them. Border regions like Rhamu and Suftu stand to become vibrant commercial hubs through these developments. PS Kimotho and his Ethiopian counterparts recognized that empowering these nodes could catalyze the entire region’s trade ecosystem.

Trade facilitation and infrastructure, therefore, are more than just projects—they are lifelines. They represent a shift in thinking where cross-border areas are no longer treated as peripheries, but as engines of inclusive growth.

Commitment at the Highest Levels

This historic bilateral engagement brought together key players. Kenya’s delegation was led by Mr. Cyrell Odede Wagunda, Principal Secretary for Investment and Assets Management at the National Treasury. Ethiopia was represented by H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance. Also present were H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, and H.E. Hon. Mohammed Ali, Governor of Marsabit County.

Together with these senior officials, PS Kimotho reaffirmed Kenya's dedication to the joint vision. His participation signified the strategic importance the State Department for Irrigation places on such projects. While his voice was just one among many, it played a vital role in amplifying Kenya's priorities and maintaining focus on the shared goal of sustainable development.

Their collective commitment is what ensures this initiative is not a theoretical conversation, but a coordinated effort toward lasting impact. The presence of high-level leaders from both governments underscores just how central this project is to the region's future.

A Future Anchored on Cooperation and Resilience

What comes next? The real work begins. Finalizing master plans, securing investments, laying the groundwork for dams, bridges, and border posts—each step brings the project closer to full realization.

Kenya and Ethiopia's partnership under IGAD illustrates what can be achieved when nations unite around common goals. The Daua River is no longer a forgotten lifeline but a frontier of opportunity. From flood control to food production, from energy to trade, the potential is immense.

The success of this initiative will be measured not just by completed infrastructure but by the improved lives of those it aims to serve. In this regard, the steady leadership and strategic foresight of PS Kimotho and his counterparts remain vital.

In a region often plagued by uncertainty, this initiative offers hope—and more importantly, a plan. It stands as a blueprint for how sustainable development, regional cooperation, and grassroots empowerment can come together to forge a better future for all.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee:0708883777