Kenya stands at a crossroads.
As climate change intensifies, farmers who once relied on the predictability of rains are now confronted with prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and devastating floods.
Agriculture — the backbone of the country’s economy, employing more than 70 per cent of the rural population — is under unprecedented stress. Yet within this challenge lies an opportunity: irrigation.
For years, irrigation in Kenya was treated as a temporary fix for drought-prone areas rather than a mainstream farming strategy.
Today, we must elevate irrigation to the heart of climate adaptation and economic transformation strategies.
Climate Imperatives
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that East Africa will face more intense weather extremes, threatening food security for millions.
In Kenya, rain-fed agriculture accounts for 98 per cent of crop production. When rains fail, harvests plummet, livestock perish, and rural livelihoods collapse.
Irrigation offers a shield. As said by Dr Nyandemo, “Irrigation is Kenya’s insurance policy — it shields farmers from climate shocks and builds a resilient economy.”
Decoupling farming from rainfall creates resilience against drought while enabling multiple cropping cycles. Farmers in irrigated zones report not only higher yields but also greater predictability — a lifeline in times of uncertainty.
Economic Promise
Beyond adaptation, irrigation has the power to reimagine Kenya’s agricultural economy.
Large-scale irrigation schemes such as the Bura Irrigation Scheme and the Galana-Kulalu project demonstrate the potential of irrigated farming to boost national food reserves.
At the smallholder level, low-cost technologies like solar-powered pumps and drip irrigation are unlocking productivity, even in arid and semi-arid lands.
The economic ripple effects are profound: irrigation expands the growing season, raises rural incomes, generates employment, and opens pathways for agro-processing industries.
With reliable production, Kenya can reduce its dependence on food imports and strengthen its position in regional markets.
Policy and Investment Shift
The Kenyan government has already identified irrigation as a priority in the Vision 2030 blueprint and subsequent NISIP (National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan).
The Plan has demonstrated that with strategic planning and intent, Kenya can be food secure, achieve zero food imports and become economically resilient.
However, only about 3 per cent of the country’s arable land is currently irrigated — a figure that pales compared to countries such as Egypt, where irrigation supports over 95 per cent of agriculture.
To scale up, we are working towards increased public-private partnerships, creating incentives for farmers to adopt modern irrigation technologies, and the expansion of irrigation infrastructure, including dams and storage facilities.
Equally crucial is capacity-building for farmers, ensuring that irrigation is not only expanded but also sustainable and water-efficient.
A Transformative Future
Positioning irrigation as both a climate adaptation and economic transformation strategy demands bold investments, but the rewards could be transformative.
Kenya’s farmers would be better equipped to withstand climate shocks, while the nation’s economy could pivot from subsistence agriculture toward a dynamic, competitive agri-business sector.
In my observation, “Water is Kenya’s new currency. Irrigation is not just about crops — it’s about climate resilience, food sovereignty, and economic rebirth.”
The rains may no longer be dependable, but with the right vision, irrigation could irrigate not just fields, but Kenya’s future.
Kenya’s Irrigation at a Glance
98% of crop production still relies on rainfall
3% of arable land is irrigated (vs. 37% in India, 95% in Egypt)
1.2 million hectares — government target for irrigated land by 2030
400% higher incomes on small irrigated farms compared to rain-fed
Sh 400 billion is spent annually on food imports
Joel Tanui is the Irrigation Secretary – Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management at the State Department for Irrigation.
