Kenyan Government Launches A Sh598 Billion 10-Year Plan Irrigation Investment Plan To Boost Food Security

Kenya stands on the brink of a transformative agricultural revolution, driven by an ambitious government-led initiative to expand irrigation across the country. With a Sh598 billion investment under the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), the nation aims to bring an additional one million acres under irrigation within the next decade. This groundbreaking strategy is poised to fortify food security, empower smallholder farmers, and fuel economic growth, positioning Kenya as a regional agricultural powerhouse.
The government’s approach is multifaceted, combining public-private partnerships, credit guarantees for smallholder farmers, and the promotion of corporate agriculture. Notably, 61% of the investment will come from the private sector, with the remaining 39% supported by the government and development partners. This blended financing model ensures sustainability and maximizes resources for greater impact.
State Department of Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho emphasized that this plan is designed to make Kenya food self-reliant, reducing the need for costly imports. The initiative focuses on five strategic investment pathways, each tailored to enhance productivity and profitability for farmers across different regions and scales.
One remarkable success already witnessed is the growth of rice production. Kenya’s irrigated farmland has expanded to 747,000 acres, with 83,000 acres added in just the past two years. This expansion has driven a 50% increase in rice production, from 192,000 metric tonnes to an impressive 293,000 metric tonnes. By 2027, production is expected to reach 440,000 metric tonnes, ultimately scaling to one million metric tonnes by 2032. This surge in output not only boosts food availability but also strengthens Kenya’s economic resilience by reducing dependence on rice imports.
The Mwea irrigation scheme stands as a shining example of this progress. Expanded from 25,000 to 35,000 acres, it now supports double cropping, ensuring continuous water flow while farmers manage operational maintenance. This innovative approach enhances yields and fosters a culture of self-reliance among farmers.
Further, the government plans to irrigate 200,000 acres in the Galana-Kulalu project, despite persistent water challenges. By collaborating with aggregators and introducing contract farming, the initiative ensures farmers secure guaranteed incomes. This structured market linkage addresses long-standing issues of inconsistent quality and quantity, providing stability and encouraging more farmers to adopt irrigation practices.
Vincent Kabuti, Irrigation Secretary at the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, underscored the plan’s vision to revolutionize Kenya’s irrigation landscape. A key pillar of the strategy is farmer-led irrigation, targeting 250,000 acres with water sources and an additional 100,000 acres in water-scarce regions. Smallholders with plots ranging from one to ten acres will gain access to affordable irrigation equipment, empowering them to scale production and improve livelihoods.
Beyond smallholder support, high-performance public irrigation schemes will prioritize governance improvements and infrastructure upgrades, enabling double cropping and intensification by up to 200%. Corporate agribusiness is another critical pathway, encouraging large-scale investors to develop extensive tracts of land using mechanized, cost-efficient practices. This approach promises to lower production costs, making food more affordable for all Kenyans and contributing to a lower cost of living.
The revitalization of irrigation in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is a cornerstone of the strategy. The plan envisions 2,000 small, farmer-owned, and managed irrigation schemes, boosting food and fodder production for vulnerable pastoralist communities. This targeted approach addresses food insecurity in traditionally underserved regions, fostering resilience and inclusive economic growth.
Kenya’s irrigation expansion strategy represents more than just a boost to food production — it’s a bold step toward a food-secure, economically vibrant, and self-sustaining future. By embracing innovation, empowering farmers, and fostering private sector investment, Kenya is setting the stage for an agricultural transformation that will benefit generations to come.