Kenya starts new Irrigation phase as PS Kimotho Steers Mega Dams

 

Kenya is entering a defining phase in its irrigation and water security journey as the State Department for Irrigation prepares to roll out one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in its history. 

In 2026, six mega dams are scheduled for construction across different regions of the country, signalling a decisive shift towards large-scale, planned irrigation as a pillar of national development. Anchored within the Government’s broader food security and climate resilience agenda, the programme reflects a growing recognition that water infrastructure is not merely a technical investment, but a strategic economic and social imperative.

At the centre of this transition is the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, whose stewardship has increasingly emphasised scale, coordination, and long-term impact. The planned dams—Lowaat in Turkana, Radat in Baringo, Thuci in Embu, Basingila in Isiolo, High Falls serving Kitui and Tharaka Nithi, and the Galana Dam spanning Tana River and Kilifi—represent a geographically balanced approach to addressing water scarcity and unlocking agricultural potential, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands.

From Fragmented Interventions to Strategic Scale

For decades, Kenya’s irrigation expansion has largely relied on smallholder schemes and incremental investments, often constrained by limited storage capacity and seasonal water variability. While these efforts have delivered important local gains, they have not fully addressed the structural challenge of water insecurity at scale. The six-mega-dam programme marks a deliberate move away from fragmented interventions towards integrated, high-capacity infrastructure capable of supporting transformative agricultural production.

Under PS Kimotho’s leadership, the State Department for Irrigation has increasingly framed irrigation as an economic system rather than a standalone project. The emphasis is on infrastructure that can support entire value chains, from production to processing and marketing, while providing reliable water supplies for communities and ecosystems. This systems-oriented approach is evident in the selection of dam sites, many of which are located in regions where water scarcity has historically limited development despite significant land and labour potential.

Addressing Regional Inequalities Through Water Infrastructure

The geographical spread of the six dams underscores a clear policy objective: reducing regional disparities by targeting historically underserved areas. Lowaat Dam in Turkana and Basingila Dam in Isiolo are particularly significant in this regard. Both counties lie within Kenya’s arid and semi-arid belt, where livelihoods are highly vulnerable to climate shocks and erratic rainfall.

By enabling large-scale irrigation in these regions, the State Department for Irrigation aims to stabilise food production, support diversification beyond pastoralism, and create new economic opportunities. This approach aligns with PS Kimotho’s consistent emphasis on irrigation as a resilience tool, one that can cushion communities against drought while opening pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

Similarly, Radat Dam in Baringo and Thuci Dam in Embu reflect a recognition that water security challenges cut across ecological zones. In these areas, irrigation infrastructure is expected to complement rain-fed agriculture, reduce production risks, and enhance productivity through year-round farming.

High Falls and Galana as Multi-County Catalysts

The High Falls Dam and the Galana Dam stand out for their scale and cross-county impact. High Falls, serving both Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties, is positioned as a shared resource that will require coordinated governance and inter-county collaboration. Its success will depend not only on engineering excellence, but also on institutional arrangements that ensure equitable access and sustainable management.

The Galana Dam, spanning Tana River and Kilifi counties, is arguably the most strategically significant of the six. Building on ongoing efforts to transform the Galana Kulalu area into a national food production zone, the dam is designed to anchor irrigation across vast tracts of land. Its inclusion in the 2026 programme reinforces the Government’s commitment to moving beyond pilot-scale farming towards fully commercial, mechanised agriculture capable of supplying national and regional markets.

Irrigating Two Million Acres as an Economic Proposition

Once completed, the six dams are expected to support irrigation across approximately two million acres of land. This scale of expansion has profound implications for Kenya’s agricultural economy. Increased acreage under irrigation translates directly into higher and more stable crop yields, reduced dependence on rainfall, and improved food availability.

From a policy perspective, PS Kimotho has consistently highlighted the importance of predictability in agricultural production. Irrigation provides that predictability, enabling farmers and investors to plan across seasons, adopt improved technologies, and commit capital with greater confidence. The two-million-acre target is therefore not just a metric of physical expansion, but a statement of intent to rebase Kenya’s food system on reliability rather than chance.

Food Security and National Stability

Food security remains a central concern for Kenya, particularly in the context of climate change, population growth, and global supply chain disruptions. By significantly expanding irrigated land, the six-dam programme is expected to boost domestic production of staple and high-value crops, reducing reliance on imports and stabilising food prices.

Under PS Kimotho’s oversight, irrigation has increasingly been positioned as a national security issue, closely linked to social stability and economic resilience. Reliable food supplies reduce vulnerability to external shocks and help insulate households from price volatility. In this sense, the mega dams are not only development projects but also strategic investments in national stability.

Climate Resilience and Water Governance

The planned dams are also integral to Kenya’s climate adaptation strategy. Large-scale water storage enhances the country’s ability to manage variability in rainfall, capture excess flows during wet periods, and release water during dry spells. This capacity is particularly critical as climate models project increased frequency of extreme weather events.

PS Kimotho’s approach has emphasised that climate resilience must be built into infrastructure design and governance frameworks from the outset. The mega dams are therefore expected to incorporate environmental safeguards, catchment protection measures, and data-driven management systems that align water use with long-term sustainability objectives.

Livelihoods, Jobs, and Inclusive Growth

Beyond agriculture, the construction and operation of six mega dams will generate substantial employment opportunities across multiple sectors. From construction and engineering to farming, processing, and logistics, the ripple effects are expected to stimulate local economies and create pathways for youth employment.

The State Department for Irrigation has increasingly framed such projects as engines of inclusive growth. By prioritising regions with high poverty levels and limited economic diversification, the programme seeks to ensure that the benefits of irrigation-led development are broadly shared. PS Kimotho’s emphasis on livelihoods reflects an understanding that infrastructure must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives to be truly transformative.

Institutional Readiness and Coordinated Delivery

Delivering six mega dams within a single programme cycle will require strong institutional coordination and governance. The State Department for Irrigation, under PS Kimotho, has been working to strengthen planning, oversight, and inter-agency collaboration to support such complex undertakings.

This includes aligning dam development with national irrigation plans, water resource management frameworks, and county development priorities. It also involves engaging multiple stakeholders, from national agencies to local communities, to ensure that projects are socially acceptable and operationally sustainable.

A Defining Chapter for Irrigation Leadership

As Kenya looks ahead to 2026, the six-mega-dam programme represents a defining chapter for the irrigation sector. It reflects a maturation of policy thinking, moving from incremental expansion to transformative scale. Objectively, the role of PS Ephantus Kimotho in shaping this direction is evident in the emphasis on strategic planning, data-driven decision-making, and long-term impact.

By centring irrigation within the broader national development agenda, the State Department for Irrigation is positioning water infrastructure as a catalyst for food security, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth. The success of the six mega dams will ultimately be measured not only in cubic metres of water stored or acres irrigated, but in the extent to which they reshape livelihoods, stabilise food systems, and secure Kenya’s future in an increasingly water-constrained world.

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