The government is planning two irrigation projects in Nandi County that are expected to improve water access for farmers and support agricultural production across hundreds of acres.
Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho concluded public participation meetings for the proposed Kapnyemis and Ndubenet irrigation projects, where residents had an opportunity to give their views on the planned developments.
The engagements covered Kapnyemis in Ollessos Ward, Nandi Hills Constituency, and Ndubenet in Emgwen Constituency.
At Kapnyemis, the project will involve rehabilitating the existing dam, building a water storage tank and installing a water distribution system to support irrigation on about 150 acres.
According to the State Department for Irrigation, the project is expected to benefit approximately 900 households. Farmers will be able to grow crops throughout the year, diversify into high-value crops and combine crop farming with livestock keeping.
The project also includes plans for kitchen gardens in schools to improve access to nutritious food. It is also expected to reduce farmers’ reliance on rainfall and help communities cope with changing weather patterns.
In Emgwen, the proposed Ndubenet Irrigation Project will focus on improving water storage and distribution to expand farming activities in the area.
The planned works include desilting an existing reservoir covering about 86 acres, stabilising its embankments and constructing a spillway. The project will also involve installing concrete water intake structures and developing water conveyance infrastructure.
An approximately 30-kilometre distribution network is planned to supply water for irrigation across an estimated 928 acres.
The two projects are part of the government’s plans to expand irrigation and improve food production by making water more accessible to farming communities.
The public participation meetings were intended to give residents a chance to raise their concerns and priorities before the projects move to the next stages.
The State Department for Irrigation says community involvement is important in ensuring that planned projects respond to local needs and that residents take part in decisions on the use and management of irrigation infrastructure.
