Government’s plan to expand area under irrigation has received a boost following the signing of a partnership between the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Kenya seeks to increase irrigated land from last year’s 747,000 acres to 1.2 million acres by 2027 and ultimately to about 2.5 million acres by 2030.
The collaboration between the State Department for Irrigation and IWMI is inclusive of economic growth.
Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho said the partnership aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (Beta) and will play a central role in boosting agricultural productivity.
“The State Department for Irrigation acknowledges and appreciates the capacity of IWMI in supporting various initiatives in the irrigation sector and we are honoured to partner with IWMI in furthering the national irrigation development agenda,” he said.
The development comes when the Kenya Red Cross is warning of worsening drought conditions across the country, with nearly two million people now facing acute food insecurity.
The humanitarian agency said severe water shortage, rising cases of malnutrition and long treks to the few remaining water points are placing immense pressure on already vulnerable communities.
Kimotho said the ministry and IWMI have already identified key priority areas through joint consultations and will begin fast-tracking interventions.
These priorities include conducting
a comprehensive baseline study to guide the prioritisation of National
Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) projects, mapping existing irrigation
schemes, assessing land suitability and developing water tariff structures that
promote cost recovery, equity and sustainability.
Kimotho and IWMI’s representative for Ethiopia and East Africa, Abdulkarim Seid and witnessed by Inga Mata, director of water, growth and inclusion at IWMI signed the MoU.
The agreement provides a structured framework to deepen collaboration in several critical areas, including mobilising resources for research and development of climate-smart irrigation; building capacity in scheme governance, water-energy efficiency and soil and water conservation; supporting policy reforms and inclusive governance; promoting innovative financing models; and scaling sustainable irrigation solutions such as solar-powered systems and nature-based water harvesting technologies.
“This MoU provides the cornerstone for collaboration to create an enabling policy and institutional environment, enhance investment in irrigation development, improve efficiency, equity and sustainability and strengthen climate resilience and natural resource management in Kenya,” Kimotho said.
The ministry expects the partnership to play a pivotal role in accelerating irrigation expansion in line with Vision 2030, ultimately contributing to improved food security and socio-economic development.
IWMI, an international research-for-development organisation headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, brings decades of experience in sustainable water and land management.
Through partnerships, research, capacity building and policy analysis, the organisation supports the implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate adaptation and inclusive growth.
Its work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on reducing poverty, ending hunger and protecting the environment.
The MoU clarifies that the agreement carries no financial obligations for either party at this stage.
Should financial commitments arise in the future, they will be governed by separate supplementary agreements to be negotiated and signed by both sides.
Both parties affirmed that the partnership will create a strong institutional foundation for scaling irrigation development and improving the performance of existing schemes.
By integrating research,
technology, governance support, and inclusive policy reforms, the collaboration
is expected to provide long-term solutions to persistent challenges facing the
irrigation sector and strengthen Kenya’s resilience to climate shocks.
