Mbeere north: Residents of the arid Mbeere North Constituency in Embu County are upbeat as the national government has injected close to half a billion shillings for implementing water projects. Currently, three projects are underway with the first two being Kamata and Kanyuambora Irrigation Projects at a cost of slightly over Sh400 million.
According to Kenya News Agency, the two projects are expected to be completed next year and will benefit over 1,500 households in Nthawa and Evurore Wards, as stated by Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho. The third initiative is a micro-irrigation project where the government assists individual farmers in constructing small earth dams on their farms to store rainwater for later use, with each dam costing Sh120,000.
The PS emphasized that the government aims to promote horticultural farming through these projects, which can yield an average gross income of Sh208,000 per acre annually. During an inspection tour of the Kamata Project, where the main pipeline construction is ongoing, PS Kimotho reiterated the importance of increasing investment in irrigation to ensure sustainable food supply and income for farmers. He highlighted the necessity of moving away from rain-fed agriculture due to climate change and adopting new farming methods to achieve food security and self-employment for farmers.
National Irrigation Authority CEO Eng. Charles Muasya confirmed that the government is enhancing irrigation connectivity not only in Mbeere North but also in other dry regions across the country. He noted that these projects will open thousands of acres for irrigation, having a direct impact on farmers and boosting the area’s food production capacity. Once completed, the systems will support year-round farming and improve household incomes.
For years, farmers in the semi-arid constituency have relied heavily on erratic rainfall, often leading to poor harvests and prolonged periods of hunger. However, with this new development, the situation is changing, allowing farmers to grow crops year-round to feed their families and earn incomes. Beneficiaries have praised the projects, noting that they now enjoy a steady food supply and surplus produce for sale. They acknowledge that irrigation has provided them with stability, dignity, and renewed hope in agriculture, which has been threatened by perennial drought for decades.
Farmer Caroline Karimi shared that her life has significantly improved since she began using water from a local sand dam. She now cultivates a variety of crops and vegetables throughout the year, earning substantial income to support her family.
