Government Accelerates Irrigation Transformation Through Sigor and Embobut Dams

The State Department for Irrigation has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fast-tracking major water and irrigation infrastructure following a detailed technical inspection and familiarisation visit to the proposed Sigor Dam in West Pokot County and the Embobut Dam site in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Conducted on Tuesday, the mission forms part of the wider Presidential Irrigation Expansion Agenda, which prioritises large-scale irrigation development as a central pillar of food security, climate resilience, and rural transformation.

The inspection underscored the strategic importance of the two proposed dams, both of which are set to unlock irrigation potential, stabilise agricultural productivity, and support sustainable economic development in regions historically affected by aridity, low rainfall, and recurrent climate shocks. The Sigor Dam will draw its water from the Pas River, while Embobut Dam will rely on the Embobut River, two critical water sources capable of supporting transformative irrigation development if fully harnessed through modern infrastructure.

The visit also brought together senior irrigation officials, led by Secretary for Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management, Mr. Joel Tanui, and Irrigation Secretary for Programmes, Eng. Michael Thuita, MBS. Their mandate is to guide the technical, regulatory, and participatory processes that will anchor the two projects on transparency, community ownership, and full compliance with environmental and social safeguards.

Unlocking Irrigation Potential in ASAL Regions: Sigor Dam as a Pathway to Food Security

Most parts of West Pokot County remain arid and semi-arid, with residents heavily reliant on inconsistent rainfall patterns for food production. The resulting vulnerability has contributed to chronic food insecurity, low productivity, limited market access, and inhibited rural development. The Sigor Irrigation Development Project has therefore emerged as a highly strategic intervention to break this long-standing cycle.

Once completed, the Sigor Dam will enable a robust irrigation system capable of serving thousands of households. Beyond water provision, the project is specifically designed to revitalise and scale major value chains that historically thrived in the region but declined due to unreliable water availability. These include apple mangoes, green grams, vegetables, and a range of high-value horticultural crops.

By transitioning communities from subsistence farming to irrigated, market-driven production, the Sigor project will create a foundation for sustainable livelihoods, local agro-industries, and commercial value chains that enhance farmer incomes. The dam is expected to stimulate investment in agro-processing, cold storage infrastructure, and organised farmer cooperatives, ultimately positioning West Pokot as a competitive agricultural hub.

Strong Oversight and Inclusive Governance at the Core of Project Implementation

Transparency and community partnership remain central to the Government’s approach in delivering irrigation infrastructure. During the inspection, the State Department underscored that all activities related to the Sigor and Embobut projects will undergo full public participation, rigorous feasibility assessments, structured technical reviews, and environmental and social safeguards.

Mr. Joel Tanui and Eng. Michael Thuita, MBS, reaffirmed that their teams will ensure every stage of the process is accountable to citizens and aligned with the Government’s commitment to responsible resource management. This includes educating communities on the benefits, roles, and responsibilities related to irrigation infrastructure, and establishing frameworks to avoid displacement or disruptions to social-cultural cohesion.

The Department emphasised the importance of involving local leaders, water user associations, technical committees, women and youth groups, and other stakeholders to ensure that the final project designs reflect community priorities and aspirations.

Embobut Dam: A Multi-Purpose Infrastructure for Irrigation, Hydropower, and Water Security

The Embobut Dam, located in Elgeyo Marakwet County, has been formally listed under the Government’s Priority Dams Programme. This designation confirms the national importance of the project and paves the way for immediate commencement of detailed feasibility studies, engineering designs, and institutional arrangements for delivery.

Proposed as a multi-purpose Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam, Embobut will have a storage capacity of 120 million cubic metres. This large reservoir will enable a wide range of development outcomes, including Large-scale irrigation development, boosting agricultural productivity across the Kerio Valley, Hydropower generation, supporting energy security for local communities and industries, Bulk water supply for domestic, livestock, and industrial use, Agro-processing support, enabling value addition for local produce, Flood management, helping mitigate recurrent downstream flooding, Environmental rehabilitation, including river ecosystem restoration and watershed management.

The dam is expected to catalyse agricultural transformation through expanded water availability, reliable irrigation, and opportunities for diversified farming systems.

Public–Private Partnerships at the Centre of Project Financing

To ensure timely and cost-effective delivery, the Government is leveraging public–private partnerships (PPPs) for major irrigation infrastructure. Tarita Green Energy Ltd, the project proponent for the Embobut Dam, will spearhead feasibility studies, engineering design, and the PPP financing model.

This approach aligns with the State Department’s broader strategy of blending public investment with private capital to accelerate project implementation, minimise delays, and ensure long-term sustainability of infrastructure assets. The PPP model encourages innovation, risk-sharing, and efficient project execution, while enabling the Government to expand irrigation coverage without placing undue pressure on public finances.

Driving Climate-Resilient and Community-Centred Irrigation Development

The State Department for Irrigation reiterated that all irrigation investments being rolled out, Sigor, Embobut, and others across the country, are grounded in principles of climate resilience, sustainability, and community inclusion. This is especially critical in regions such as West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet where climate variability, land degradation, and water scarcity have constrained agricultural potential for decades.

The dams are expected to support climate-smart technologies such as Solar-powered water pumping, Water-efficient pressurised irrigation systems, Soil moisture monitoring tools, Water storage and conveyance enhancements, Ecological restoration within catchment areas.

These interventions will help communities adapt to climate change, reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

Commitment to the Presidential Irrigation Expansion Agenda

The Government has prioritised irrigation as a foundational pillar of national food security and economic transformation. The Presidential Irrigation Expansion Agenda aims to scale up irrigated land nationwide, reduce food import bills, and position agriculture as a driver of rural prosperity.

The Sigor and Embobut Dams fit squarely within this agenda, offering multi-county benefits and long-term strategic value. Their successful implementation will significantly expand irrigated acreage, support diversified livelihoods, and promote regional economic integration across the North Rift and ASAL regions.

A Future Built on Water Security and Agricultural Transformation

Today’s technical inspection of the Sigor and Embobut dam sites reaffirms the State Department’s unwavering commitment to delivering large-scale, community-centered, and climate-resilient irrigation investments. Through inclusive governance, strong technical oversight, and strategic partnerships, the Government is laying the foundation for a future where water security, agricultural productivity, and rural development are assured.

With feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, and structured project planning underway, both Sigor and Embobut stand poised to unlock unprecedented opportunities for communities across West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, and the wider Kerio Valley region.

The State Department for Irrigation remains committed to ensuring these transformative projects are implemented transparently, efficiently, and sustainably, strengthening Kenya’s food systems and securing prosperity for generations to come.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko.  To support the blog, Mpesa: 0708883777