Kenya’s irrigation sector is entering a decisive phase as climate variability, growing water demand, and ambitious national development goals converge. Increasing droughts and floods are placing pressure on agricultural systems and rural livelihoods, prompting the government to position irrigation as a central pillar of development. The National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan provides a long-term roadmap to expand irrigated land, strengthen water governance, and boost rural economies through more reliable and efficient water access.
To operationalize this vision, the State Department for Irrigation under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Water Management Institute. Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December, the collaboration is supported by the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program and combines policy mandate, technical expertise, and research evidence to accelerate irrigation transformation. The partnership aims to improve water management, expand irrigation development, and enhance resilience for farmers across Kenya.
A core focus of the collaboration is strengthening policy, governance, and analytical capacity to guide evidence-based and equitable investment decisions. Implementation of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan emphasizes inclusive irrigation development so that smallholder farmers, particularly women, youth, and marginalized groups, can benefit. Tools such as the Water Availability and Demand platform are being used to assess water resources, agricultural demand, and opportunities for irrigation expansion, enabling more efficient land and water use planning at national and county levels.
Financing is another critical component of the irrigation transformation agenda. The government, IWMI, and development partners are exploring blended financing approaches that combine public, private, and development funds to mobilize sustained investment. These efforts include leveraging climate finance and carbon credits to scale green irrigation technologies, as well as developing fair and sustainable water tariffs that support efficient use, cover maintenance costs, and keep irrigation services affordable for farmers.
Technology and environmental sustainability are central to ensuring long-term resilience. Kenya’s leadership in solar-powered irrigation offers strong potential to reduce costs and emissions, but wider adoption requires supportive policies, financing, and technical capacity. Through targeted programs and partnerships, solar solutions are being scaled across agricultural value chains. At the same time, environmental safeguards such as wastewater reuse, nature-based solutions, and stronger environmental oversight are being integrated into irrigation expansion plans to ensure that growth in irrigated agriculture enhances resilience without undermining ecosystems.
