Nairobi: President William Ruto has inaugurated the Sh221 million expansion of the Rombo Clusters Irrigation Development Project in Kajiado South, an initiative aimed at transforming agricultural production, strengthening food security, and improving livelihoods in the region. The expansion increases the irrigated area from 2,983 acres to 5,500 acres across four schemes, providing thousands of farmers with reliable water for agricultural production year-round.
According to Kenya News Agency, President Ruto, during his visit to Kajiado County to inspect government projects, emphasized that this investment would help farmers transition from reliance on rain-fed agriculture to year-round commercial farming. He highlighted that the improved Rombo-Taveta Road would enhance the irrigation project by facilitating farmers’ access to markets and reducing transportation costs for agricultural produce.
The improved connectivity is expected to attract traders, aggregators, and buyers to production areas, enabling farmers to align production with market demand and gain access to more lucrative markets. Farmers will also have the opportunity to diversify into high-value horticultural crops, food crops, and fruit trees.
The Rombo Cluster, executed by the National Irrigation Authority, includes the Kisioki, Matepes, Esosioni, and Oltepesi schemes, covering a total of 5,500 acres. The project aims to enhance food security for 6,000 households, create 6,000 direct employment opportunities, and support approximately 30,000 indirect jobs. It is also expected to boost agricultural and livestock production and provide raw materials for agro-processing.
Financial and economic analysis of the project indicates it is viable, with a projected generation of approximately Sh1 billion in gross income and a payback period of less than one year. President Ruto stated that the State Department for Irrigation would bolster the capacity of Irrigation Water Users Associations (IWUAs) to ensure effective management of the schemes. Additionally, farmers will receive support with quality seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, while measures will be introduced to reduce post-harvest losses through improved handling, storage, grading, packaging, and transportation.
President Ruto announced that Phase II of the project would require an investment of Sh250 million, bringing an additional 5,000 acres under irrigation. ‘This is part of our broader plan for Kajiado County, where 37 irrigation projects have been completed and 22 are ongoing,’ said President Ruto. He noted that these projects currently cover 14,887 acres and have benefited 74,434 farmers, with a cumulative investment of Sh2.5 billion.
On a national scale, President Ruto stated that the government is aiming to expand irrigation to 2.5 million acres as part of efforts to decrease reliance on rain-fed agriculture and promote productive and climate-resilient farming.
