How IWMI Will Reshape Irrigation Governance in Kenya

 

THE GOVERNMENT has reached a moment in Kenya’s irrigation journey where infrastructure alone is no longer the main constraint. Dams, canals, pumps and conveyance systems remain important, but the real question now is how water is governed, allocated, priced, monitored and sustained over time. This is where irrigation success will either be secured or quietly undermined. In this context, the growing role of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is not peripheral. It is central to whether Kenya’s irrigation expansion delivers lasting value.

Kenya’s irrigation ambition is clear. Through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan and the Presidential Irrigation Expansion agenda, the country is deliberately shifting away from overdependence on rain-fed agriculture. What is less visible, but equally critical, is the governance machinery that must support this expansion. Without strong institutions, reliable data, fair water allocation rules and cost recovery mechanisms, even the most expensive irrigation systems eventually struggle. IWMI’s entry into this space brings a different kind of strength, one grounded in research, policy design and long-term system thinking.

Why Irrigation Governance Matters More Than Ever

Irrigation governance refers to the rules, institutions and decision-making processes that determine who gets water, when they get it, how much they pay for it and how systems are maintained. In Kenya, governance weaknesses have historically shown up in predictable ways. Schemes perform well during the early years, then gradually decline as maintenance falters, conflicts emerge, costs rise and accountability weakens.

As irrigation expands into new regions, especially arid and semi-arid areas, these governance risks multiply. Water sources are more fragile, users are more diverse and climate variability is sharper. Managing such systems through ad hoc arrangements is no longer viable. Governance must become deliberate, evidence-based and adaptable. This is precisely the space where IWMI’s global experience becomes relevant.

IWMI’s Value Lies in Turning Evidence Into Policy

IWMI is not an implementing agency and it is not a financier. Its influence lies elsewhere. It generates research that helps governments make better decisions about water. In Kenya, this means moving irrigation planning away from assumptions and toward verified data.

One of the persistent challenges in irrigation governance is the absence of reliable water accounting. Many schemes operate without precise knowledge of how much water is available, how much is being abstracted and how efficiently it is being used. IWMI’s work on water measurement, basin-level planning and digital monitoring tools offers Kenya an opportunity to close this gap. When policy is informed by accurate data, decisions become defensible, transparent and easier to enforce.

This evidence-based approach also reduces conflict. Farmers are more likely to accept allocation rules when they are grounded in clear data rather than administrative discretion. Counties and national agencies coordinate better when decisions are based on shared information rather than parallel assumptions.

Rethinking Water Tariffs and Cost Recovery

Perhaps the most sensitive issue in irrigation governance is water pricing. Kenya has long struggled to balance affordability for farmers with the financial sustainability of irrigation schemes. Underpricing water undermines maintenance and discourages private investment. Overpricing it pushes farmers out of production.

IWMI’s technical expertise in designing context-specific water tariff structures is therefore particularly significant. Rather than applying uniform tariffs across diverse schemes, IWMI promotes pricing models that reflect local realities. These include crop types, farm sizes, energy costs, water availability and governance capacity. Such nuanced approaches help governments recover costs without imposing unrealistic burdens on farmers.

For public-private partnership irrigation projects, clear tariff frameworks are essential. Investors require predictable revenue streams, while farmers require fairness and transparency. IWMI’s research helps bridge this gap by grounding tariff discussions in data rather than politics alone.

Strengthening Institutions at Scheme Level

Governance does not happen only in Nairobi or at policy level. It happens daily at scheme level, where water user associations, cooperatives and management committees make operational decisions. Many irrigation schemes fail not because infrastructure is inadequate, but because institutions are weak.

IWMI’s work on institutional design and capacity development speaks directly to this challenge. By supporting training in water accounting, governance structures and conflict resolution, IWMI contributes to professionalising scheme management. This aligns with Kenya’s broader push to empower Irrigation Water Users Associations and transition them into stronger cooperative models.

Well-governed schemes reduce dependence on government intervention. They also create conditions where farmers can invest confidently in higher-value crops, knowing that water access is reliable and predictable.

Climate Resilience Requires Smarter Governance

Climate change has added urgency to irrigation governance reform. Rainfall patterns are increasingly erratic, rivers are under pressure and competition for water is intensifying. In such an environment, rigid governance systems fail quickly.

IWMI’s climate-focused research helps Kenya design irrigation systems that can adapt. This includes scenario planning for drought years, integrating groundwater and surface water management, and promoting nature-based solutions that protect catchments. Governance frameworks informed by such research are more resilient because they anticipate variability rather than reacting to crises.

This approach is particularly relevant for ASAL counties, where irrigation is often framed as an emergency response to drought. IWMI’s work helps reposition irrigation as a long-term adaptation strategy grounded in sustainable water use rather than short-term relief.

Linking Research to National Planning

One of the persistent weaknesses in public sector reform is the gap between research and implementation. Policies are often developed without sustained engagement with research institutions, while research outputs remain underutilised. The growing collaboration between Kenya’s water and irrigation institutions and IWMI directly addresses this gap.

By aligning research priorities with national planning frameworks such as the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan, IWMI ensures that evidence feeds directly into policy decisions. This makes planning more credible and improves coordination across ministries, counties and development partners.

For Kenya, this also strengthens its position when engaging with climate finance platforms and development partners. Evidence-backed plans are more likely to attract funding, particularly where water governance and sustainability are central concerns.

Supporting a Shift From Projects to Systems

A defining feature of past irrigation efforts in Kenya has been a project-by-project approach. Each scheme was treated as a standalone intervention. While this delivered local benefits, it limited scalability and learning across the sector.

IWMI’s systems-based perspective encourages Kenya to think differently. Irrigation schemes are part of wider river basins, markets, ecosystems and institutional arrangements. Governance reforms that recognise these linkages are more likely to deliver sustained national impact.

This shift from isolated projects to integrated systems is essential if Kenya is to meet its ambitious irrigation targets without overstretching water resources or public finances.

What This Means for Kenya’s Irrigation Future

IWMI’s role in Kenya’s irrigation transformation is not about visibility or announcements. It is about quietly reshaping how decisions are made, how water is governed and how sustainability is secured. By strengthening the evidence base, improving tariff design, professionalising institutions and embedding climate resilience into policy, IWMI supports the kind of irrigation expansion that endures.

For the State Department for Irrigation, this partnership enhances policy credibility and implementation confidence. It ensures that ambitious targets are matched with governance frameworks capable of sustaining them. In an era where water scarcity and climate risk are defining development challenges, such partnerships are not optional. They are foundational.

Kenya’s irrigation future will ultimately be judged not by how many acres are brought under irrigation, but by how well those acres perform over time. Good governance is what makes that performance possible. Through its research, policy support and institutional strengthening, IWMI is positioned to play a decisive role in shaping that outcome.

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