How PS Kimotho Is Turning Irrigation into Kenya’s New Economic Backbone

For many years, irrigation occupied a curious place in Kenya's development conversation. Everyone agreed it was important, yet it often remained in the background while discussions about roads, electricity, industry, education, and technology dominated public attention. Water infrastructure was largely viewed as a support function for agriculture rather than a strategic national asset capable of influencing the country's economic trajectory.

That perception is slowly changing. Across the country, irrigation is increasingly emerging as one of the most consequential investments being made in Kenya's future. The reason is simple. Food security, climate resilience, industrial growth, job creation, livestock productivity, export expansion, and rural transformation all depend, in one way or another, on reliable access to water.

Recent deliberations within government have brought this reality into sharper focus. During a presentation to the Committee of Principal Secretaries,  Irrigation Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho outlined the progress that has been made across key agricultural value chains and the interventions planned to accelerate irrigation development. The presentation was not merely a review of projects. It provided a window into how irrigation is increasingly being positioned as a foundation upon which broader economic transformation can be built.

Rice Production Is No Longer Being Treated as a Permanent Import Problem

Rice consumption continues to rise across Kenya as changing dietary preferences and population growth increase demand. For many years, however, domestic production struggled to keep pace, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports. This dependence has exposed Kenya to global market fluctuations and increased pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

A different picture is beginning to emerge. Through the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure supporting rice production, more than 71,624 acres have been brought back into productive use. These investments have contributed to a significant increase in national rice output, which grew from 192,000 metric tonnes in 2022 to 305,000 metric tonnes in 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 59 per cent within a relatively short period.

The ambition does not stop there. The Government is targeting 700,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice by 2027 through continued rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation systems, the introduction of high-yielding rice varieties, and increased participation by private investors. What is taking shape is not simply an effort to produce more rice. It is an attempt to reduce import dependency while strengthening Kenya's capacity to feed itself using domestic production.

Galana-Kulalu Reflects the Scale of Kenya's Food Security Ambitions

Few agricultural projects have generated as much national discussion as the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project. While public debate has often focused on the challenges associated with the project, its long-term potential remains significant.

The expansion of irrigation infrastructure within Galana-Kulalu forms part of a broader strategy to support large-scale maize production. Once fully developed, the project is expected to unlock up to 200,000 acres under irrigation. Such an expansion has the potential to transform maize production by generating more than 14 million bags annually.

The significance of these projections extends beyond food availability. Large-scale agricultural production creates opportunities for employment, investment, logistics, agro-processing, transport services, and rural enterprise development. Every additional acre placed under productive irrigation has the potential to generate economic activity far beyond the farm itself. In this regard, Galana-Kulalu is increasingly being viewed not merely as an agricultural project but as an economic growth platform.

Small Irrigation Projects Are Producing Big Results

While major irrigation schemes often attract attention because of their size, some of the most meaningful transformations are occurring through smaller interventions spread across different parts of the country.

The State Department for Irrigation has completed 8,983 irrigation-support projects since 2022. These include 50 community irrigation schemes, 8,724 household water pans, 143 community water pans and small dams, and 66 micro-irrigation projects. In addition to these completed initiatives, another 342 projects are currently under implementation.

Taken individually, some of these interventions may appear modest. Collectively, however, they represent one of the most extensive efforts to expand access to irrigation water at community level. Through these investments, thousands of farmers are being connected to reliable water sources that enable them to grow high-value horticultural crops, increase productivity, improve household incomes, and reduce their dependence on erratic rainfall patterns.

The cumulative impact of nearly nine thousand projects is difficult to overstate. What emerges is a network of localized water infrastructure capable of strengthening agricultural production in counties across the country.

Irrigation Is Also Reshaping Livestock Economies

Conversations about irrigation often focus on crops, yet some of the most important developments are taking place within the livestock sector.

Pastoralist communities living in arid and semi-arid regions face recurring challenges associated with drought, water scarcity, and feed shortages. These pressures can devastate livelihoods and weaken local economies. Recognizing this reality, the State Department for Irrigation is implementing strategic feedlot programmes designed to strengthen drought resilience while supporting livestock production.

Projects such as Griftu in Wajir County and Dambala Fachana in Marsabit County are expected to support the production of approximately 100,000 tonnes of fodder. These investments are intended to improve feed availability, strengthen livestock value chains, and enhance the resilience of communities that depend heavily on livestock production.

Reliable fodder supplies contribute directly to animal health, productivity, and market value. Consequently, these interventions are not simply agricultural projects. They represent broader investments in economic stability, household income growth, and climate adaptation within some of Kenya's most vulnerable regions.

Private Investment Is Becoming Part of the Irrigation Story

The scale of Kenya's irrigation ambitions requires financial resources that extend beyond traditional public funding mechanisms. As a result, attracting private capital and foreign investment has become an increasingly important component of the sector's development strategy.

During the briefing, the Committee of Principal Secretaries was updated on efforts to mobilize Foreign Direct Investment and private sector participation through strategic partnerships and investment promotion initiatives. These efforts are expected to receive additional momentum through the National Infrastructure Fund, which is intended to accelerate investment in critical infrastructure.

The results achieved so far suggest growing investor confidence. The irrigation sector accounted for approximately 30.9 per cent of all deals secured during the Kenya International Investment Conference in 2025. This translates to approximately USD 897 million, equivalent to about KES 116 billion, out of total commitments worth USD 2.9 billion.

Such figures demonstrate that investors increasingly view irrigation not merely as a development intervention but as an economic opportunity capable of generating long-term value. This shift has important implications because it expands the pool of resources available to finance future projects.

The Dam Programme Could Redefine Agricultural Production

Perhaps the most ambitious component of Kenya's irrigation agenda lies in the planned development of major multipurpose dams.

The State Department for Irrigation has identified dam projects with the potential to unlock more than 1.49 million acres for irrigation. Beyond agricultural production, these projects are expected to enhance water security, support domestic and industrial water supply, and generate approximately 935 megawatts of hydropower.

The importance of such infrastructure extends beyond immediate economic returns. Water storage capacity determines how effectively a country can respond to drought, manage climate variability, and sustain agricultural productivity during periods of water stress. At the same time, reliable water supply supports industrial growth, urban development, and energy generation.

For this reason, dam construction represents more than an irrigation intervention. It forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at strengthening resilience while supporting long-term economic growth.

Connecting Food Security to Economic Transformation

What makes these developments particularly significant is the extent to which they are connected. Rice production, maize production, horticulture, livestock development, private investment, and dam construction are often discussed separately. In reality, they are increasingly being linked through a common objective.

That objective is the creation of a more resilient agricultural economy capable of supporting national food security while generating employment, investment, and economic growth.

The presentation delivered by Irrigation Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho illustrated the breadth of this agenda. Rather than focusing on isolated projects, it highlighted a coordinated effort to expand irrigation as a tool for agricultural transformation. The emphasis on infrastructure rehabilitation, community-level projects, livestock support programmes, investment mobilization, and large-scale water storage reflects an understanding that food security cannot be achieved through a single intervention.

Instead, progress depends on building interconnected systems capable of supporting production across multiple value chains and regions.

Looking Beyond Water

The most important lesson emerging from Kenya's irrigation agenda is that irrigation is no longer just about water. Water remains the essential resource, but the broader objective is economic transformation.

Every rehabilitated rice scheme contributes to reduced imports. Every acre placed under irrigation increases productive capacity. Every community water project strengthens local resilience. Every fodder programme supports pastoral livelihoods. Every investment commitment expands opportunities for growth. Every dam creates new possibilities for agriculture, industry, and energy production.

Taken together, these initiatives reveal a sector that is becoming increasingly central to Kenya's development ambitions. The story unfolding is not merely about irrigation infrastructure. It is about building the foundations for a more food-secure, climate-resilient, and economically productive future.

That is why Kenya's irrigation story is steadily becoming Kenya's economic story.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee Mpesa 0708883777