KENYA MOJA

By Victor Oyuko   The growing partnership between Kenya and Japan took a major step forward with a high-profile visit to the Ahero Irrigation Scheme. On the afternoon of July 6, 2025, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, toured the Ahero fields and held discussions on Kenya’s irrigation future. Hosted by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho,  his visit was more than symbolic. It marked a pivotal milestone in the deepening collaboration between JICA and Kenya’s State Department for Irrigation, aimed at transforming rice production, water use efficiency, and farmer livelihoods across the country. The presence of such a senior figure from JICA at Ahero was not just about inspecting fields—it was a strong statement of confidence in Kenya’s irrigation development trajectory. It underlined the seriousness with which development partners view the Western Irrigation Schemes, especially Ahero and West Kano in Kisumu County. ...

By Victor Patience Oyuko   MWEA Irrigation Scheme is no longer just a name on a map. It is a place that has become the loudest proof yet that Kenya can grow enough to feed herself. Anchored by the powerful presence of Thiba Dam, Mwea has transformed from a seasonal rice basket into a national powerhouse for food production. This transformation is no accident. It is a result of calculated planning, precise engineering, and above all, relentless commitment from the State Department for Irrigation. Over the past year, this scheme has shifted gears. The Thiba Dam, completed in April 2022, has been fully operational since 2023. It is the largest single infrastructure investment ever undertaken in the history of Mwea Irrigation Scheme. From the moment water was released downstream, what had always felt like a promising future suddenly became the new reality for over 30,000 acres of farmland. This dam was designed not only to hold water, but to build a nation. And it’s doing exactly that...