Several key irrigation and water development projects across the country face setbacks and delays due to budget cuts, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation has warned.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa and Principal Secretary for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation pointed out that some of the flagship projects will have to be deferred.
During the session chaired by Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen it emerged that the ministry's development budget has been slashed by over Sh3.5 billion compared to the previous fiscal year — a move likely to stall several key projects critical to food security, employment creation, and climate resilience.
“An analysis of proposed ceiling vs proposed allocation for development budget show that the proposed ceiling for financial year 2025/26 is Sh16.944 billion vs allocation of Sh16.107 billion a cut of Sh837 million. When compared to year 2024/25 the State Department has a budget cut of ShSh2.8 Billion.”
Among the most affected projects is the Bura Irrigation Scheme, which has suffered a Sh250 million cut, potentially delaying the planned expansion of 18,500 acres.
The Mwea Irrigation Project is also facing a Sh200 million reduction, putting at risk efforts to bring an additional 5,000 acres under cultivation.
The Community Irrigation Projects programme will bear one of the steepest cuts — Sh436 million — affecting 18 ongoing projects and threatening to derail the creation of over 19,530 jobs, according to the ministry's estimates.
The National Expanded Irrigation Programme has also lost Sh850 million, while land reclamation efforts in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) have been cut by Sh250 million.
The Ministry’s development budget ceiling was initially set at Sh16.944 billion, but has since been reduced to Sh16.107 billion, a cut of Sh837 million.
Compared to the 2024/25 allocation, government-funded development projects have dropped by 33 per cent, equivalent to Sh2.821 billion.
Recurrent spending is also affected, with a Sh91 million reduction from the proposed Sh1.418 billion ceiling.
Operational areas including travel, fuel, motor vehicle maintenance, staff training, and office expenses are expected to take the hit.
“The proposed ceiling for the financial year 2025/26 is Sh1.418 billion vs Proposed allocation of Sh1.327 billion which is reduction of Sh91 million. The impact of the recurrent budget rationalization process for the year 2025/26 will affect travels, fuel, motor vehicle maintenance, staff capacity building, and general office expenses,” Mugaa told the committee.
Despite the constrained fiscal space, PS Kimotho maintained that the ministry is committed to implementing Presidential Directives and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He said that for the coming fiscal year, targets include the development of over 44,000 acres under the National Expanded Irrigation Programme, provision of irrigation infrastructure to 70 public schools, and continued work on strategic projects such as the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project, Mwache Multipurpose Dam, Siyoi-Muruny Dam, and Umaa Dam.
However, the funding shortfalls have cast doubt on the timely delivery of these ambitious goals.
