Kenya Holds Commissioning Ceremony for KES 147 Million Agricultural Irrigation Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 12, Kenyan President William Ruto attended the commissioning ceremony of the Ziwa 2 Earth Dam Irrigation Project in Uasin Gishu County. The project represents an investment of approximately KES 147 million, with a planned first-phase irrigation area of 500 acres, expected to directly benefit 1,000 farmers. The main works have been largely completed, with the remaining farmer water supply connections and dam fencing works scheduled for completion by the end of November 2026.

The project is located in Sirikwa Location, Soy Constituency, and commenced construction in June 2025. It mainly involves desilting the existing earth dam, rebuilding the embankment, and installing irrigation ancillary facilities. After rehabilitation, the dam's water storage capacity will reach 1 million cubic meters. Two solar-powered pumping systems have been installed, each rated at a delivery rate of 50 cubic meters per hour and a head of 60 meters, used to convey irrigation water to surrounding farmland.

The irrigation system is also equipped with two storage tanks, each with a capacity of 100 cubic meters. The water conveyance pipelines lead to Kerotet and Saramek, with lengths of 3 kilometers and 3.3 kilometers respectively; the associated on-farm distribution networks have lengths of 26 kilometers and 34 kilometers respectively. The project is planned to support two cropping seasons per year, with crops including maize, beans, spinach, tomatoes, onions, kale, passion fruit, and coffee.

According to the project plan, farmers are targeted to earn approximately KES 200,000 per acre per year. The project is also expected to indirectly benefit 5,000 people through agricultural production and related economic activities. The National Irrigation Authority will organize the establishment, registration, and capacity building of irrigation water user associations, and provide farmers with commercial agriculture training and market linkage services.

The second phase of the project plans to add another 2,000 acres of irrigation area, covering an additional 4,000 households. The expansion will be incorporated into subsequent irrigation facility construction arrangements.