The government has intensified efforts to modernise irrigation planning and attract private capital into the water sector following the handover of the Water Availability and Demand (WAD) Tool to the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).
The digital platform was formally handed over by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) during a ceremony presided over by Principal Secretary for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, at the NIA headquarters.
PS Kimotho said the WAD Tool will play a central role in aligning water resources with agricultural demand as Kenya accelerates the expansion of irrigated agriculture to boost food security and reduce dependence on imports.
He noted that the platform will be integrated into the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) Management Information System, enabling sector-wide access to credible data on water availability, demand, and irrigation performance.
According to the PS, access to transparent and verifiable data is critical in shifting the sector from fragmented pilots to scalable, high-impact investments.
He observed that outputs from the WAD Tool will support better project design, reduce investment risks, and enable the structuring of bankable irrigation projects, including Public–Private Partnerships and blended finance initiatives.
The event brought together senior officials from the State Department for Irrigation, IWMI, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), and was hosted by NIA Chief Executive Officer Charles Muasya, MBS, together with the Authority’s management and staff.
Developed under FAO’s WaPOR Project through collaboration between NIA and IWMI, the WAD Tool uses satellite imagery and digital dashboards to translate complex earth observation data into practical insights.
The system allows users to evaluate water availability, estimate agricultural water demand, analyse crop patterns, identify suitable sites for on-farm water storage, and compare supply and demand to guide investment decisions.
NIA has now assumed full ownership of the platform after its staff underwent training on system administration and data management, with IWMI expected to continue providing technical backstopping to ensure a smooth transition.
PS Kimotho said the handover underscores the government’s commitment to partnerships that deliver measurable results and scale climate-resilient irrigation solutions, positioning the water sector as investment-ready and responsive to future climate and food security challenges.
