Okundi Dam Project Signals New Lifeline for Karachuonyo Farmers

 

The Government has continued to anchor irrigation development at the centre of local economic transformation, recognising water as both a productive asset and a stabilising force for communities facing climate uncertainty. This policy direction was evident during an inspection of the ongoing Okundi Dam Irrigation Project in Karachuonyo Constituency, Homa Bay County, led by Principal Secretary for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho, alongside Hon. Adipo Okuome, the Deputy County Commissioner, and senior officials from the County Government. The visit offered an opportunity not only to assess construction progress, but also to engage beneficiaries and reaffirm the strategic intent behind the investment.

At Okundi, irrigation is being deployed as a practical solution to long-standing constraints that have limited agricultural productivity and household incomes. The project reflects a deliberate effort by the State Department for Irrigation to move beyond seasonal interventions and establish reliable, year-round water systems that support farming, livestock, and domestic needs in an integrated manner. In a region where rainfall variability has often undermined planning and investment by farmers, the dam represents a shift toward predictability and resilience.

A Strategic Water Investment for Karachuonyo

The Okundi Dam Irrigation Project has been designed as a multi-purpose water infrastructure, responding to the diverse needs of the local community. With a storage capacity of approximately 150 million cubic litres, the dam will provide a dependable source of water for irrigation, household use, and livestock watering. This scale of storage is significant for Karachuonyo, as it allows farming and livestock activities to continue through dry seasons when rivers and shallow water sources typically recede.

The project is being implemented by the State Department for Irrigation as part of a broader national effort to expand irrigated agriculture and reduce dependence on rain-fed systems. Under PS Kimotho’s leadership, the department has consistently emphasised that small and medium-scale irrigation schemes play a critical role in complementing flagship national projects. They deliver direct, visible impact at the household level while contributing to national food security objectives.

Once completed, the Okundi scheme is expected to irrigate approximately 100 acres, directly benefiting about 100 households. While modest in acreage compared to large national schemes, its importance lies in how it integrates water, production, and livelihoods within a single community. The project is also designed to support over 20,000 livestock units, underscoring the centrality of livestock to the local economy and the need for water systems that serve both crops and animals.

Building Climate Resilience Through Irrigation

Climate variability has increasingly shaped agricultural outcomes across western Kenya. Extended dry spells, followed by intense rainfall events, have disrupted planting cycles and degraded soils. The Okundi Dam responds to these challenges by strengthening the community’s ability to manage water across seasons. Reliable storage reduces exposure to drought, while controlled water release supports orderly irrigation and reduces pressure on fragile water sources.

The design of the project reflects an understanding that resilience is not achieved through infrastructure alone. Integrated crop–livestock production systems are being promoted to optimise water use and diversify income streams. Irrigated fodder production, for instance, allows livestock keepers to maintain productivity during dry periods, reducing distress sales and stabilising household incomes.

PS Kimotho has repeatedly underscored that irrigation is a climate adaptation tool as much as it is an agricultural intervention. By enabling farmers to plan with greater certainty, irrigation supports better input use, higher yields, and improved market engagement. In Karachuonyo, this translates into the potential for farmers to move beyond subsistence maize production into higher-value horticulture, while maintaining livestock as a complementary enterprise.

Infrastructure Designed for Sustainability

The Okundi Dam Irrigation Project incorporates a comprehensive infrastructure package aimed at ensuring long-term functionality and efficiency. In addition to the main storage dam, the scheme includes upstream and downstream dams, check dams to manage flows and reduce erosion, and solar-powered pumping systems that lower operational costs and align with clean energy goals.

Piped irrigation networks and storage tanks form the backbone of water distribution, ensuring equitable access across the command area. Communal water facilities have also been integrated to support domestic use and livestock watering, reducing competition between household and productive needs. This integrated design reflects lessons learned from earlier schemes where single-purpose infrastructure often led to conflicts or underutilisation.

The inclusion of solar-powered systems is particularly significant. Energy costs are a common constraint in irrigation schemes, often undermining sustainability once projects are handed over to communities. By adopting renewable energy solutions, the State Department for Irrigation is addressing this risk upfront, improving the prospects for long-term operation and maintenance.

Preparing Farmers for Irrigation-Based Production

During a sensitisation session with beneficiaries, PS Kimotho emphasised that infrastructure alone does not guarantee impact. Successful irrigation requires farmers to adjust production practices, adopt appropriate crop choices, and organise effectively around water management. Preparing communities for irrigation-based production is therefore a central component of the Okundi project.

Farmers were encouraged to strengthen their organisations and take collective responsibility for scheme management. Strong farmer institutions are essential for scheduling water use, maintaining infrastructure, and resolving disputes. They also provide a platform for engaging with extension services, input suppliers, and markets.

Capacity building in crop husbandry, water management, and agribusiness was highlighted as a priority. Irrigated agriculture demands different skills from rain-fed farming, including precise water application, fertiliser management, and pest control. Without these skills, the productivity gains offered by irrigation cannot be fully realised.

PS Kimotho’s engagement with farmers reflected a broader policy approach that places people at the centre of irrigation development. By investing in human capacity alongside physical infrastructure, the State Department for Irrigation is seeking to ensure that schemes deliver sustained benefits rather than short-lived gains.

Boosting Food Security and Local Economies

Beyond water access, the Okundi Dam Irrigation Project is expected to generate tangible socio-economic benefits for Karachuonyo Constituency. Increased maize and horticultural production will contribute to local food availability and reduce reliance on external supplies. Horticultural crops, in particular, offer opportunities for higher incomes due to their market value and shorter production cycles.

Employment creation is another anticipated outcome. Construction activities have already generated short-term jobs, while expanded agricultural production will create ongoing opportunities in farming, aggregation, transport, and marketing. These employment effects are especially important for youth, who often face limited options in rural areas.

Rising household incomes are expected to translate into improved nutrition, better access to education and healthcare, and greater resilience to economic shocks. In this sense, the project aligns closely with the Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritises income generation and livelihood security at the grassroots level.

Strengthening National and County Collaboration

The inspection visit also highlighted the importance of collaboration between national and county governments in delivering irrigation outcomes. Hon. Adipo Okuome and county officials reaffirmed their commitment to work with the National Government in strengthening farmer capacity through extension services. This partnership is critical, as counties play a central role in providing on-the-ground support to farmers.

Extension services bridge the gap between infrastructure and productivity, translating technical designs into practical farming improvements. By aligning national irrigation investments with county-led extension programmes, the Okundi project stands a better chance of achieving its intended impact.

PS Kimotho has consistently advocated for this whole-of-government approach, recognising that irrigation intersects with agriculture, livestock, energy, and local development. Effective coordination reduces duplication, maximises resource use, and ensures that farmers receive coherent support.

A Local Project with National Significance

While the Okundi Dam Irrigation Project serves a specific community, its significance extends beyond Karachuonyo. It exemplifies the type of targeted, well-designed intervention that the State Department for Irrigation is promoting across the country. Such projects demonstrate how relatively modest investments, when properly planned and supported, can deliver outsized benefits in terms of food security, resilience, and livelihoods.

For PS Ephantus Kimotho, the inspection underscored the importance of staying connected to implementation realities. Engaging directly with farmers and stakeholders provides feedback that informs policy and improves future project design. It also reinforces accountability, ensuring that national investments translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.

As construction progresses, the focus will increasingly shift to completion, commissioning, and post-construction support. Ensuring that farmers are ready to take full advantage of the infrastructure will be critical. If successfully implemented, the Okundi Dam Irrigation Project will stand as a practical demonstration of how irrigation can transform rural economies, one community at a time, while contributing to Kenya’s broader goals of food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

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