The government has announced plans to construct at least six mega dams and bring nearly two million acres of land under irrigation, as it intensifies efforts to safeguard food production against climate shocks and unlock the agricultural potential of arid and semi-arid lands.

A Strategic Shift from Rain-Fed Agriculture

Officials say the move marks a deliberate shift away from reliance on rain-fed farming, which continues to expose millions of farmers to erratic weather patterns.

“Whenever rains fail, it affects the farmers greatly, and those are some of the effects of climate change,” said State Department for Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho.

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“Irrigation comes in as a mitigating factor. Whenever there is rain, we store water, and when there is drought, we use that water to do irrigation”.

Irrigation as a Central Pillar of Production

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Kimotho said the government has already identified close to two million acres nationwide for irrigation development, particularly in regions historically sidelined by low and unreliable rainfall.

He noted that irrigation is no longer being treated as a backup plan but as a central pillar of agricultural production.

“This is a year that we will actually see more farmers reaping the benefits of irrigation,” he said, pointing to ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation schemes across the country.

The 2026 Dam Construction Roadmap

The dam construction programme is expected to kick off in 2026. According to the Head of Irrigation Infrastructure, Engineer Vincent Kabuti, at least six “game-changing” dams are lined up, pending completion of designs, feasibility studies and financing.

“We are confident that in 2026 we are going to start construction of at least six large-scale dams,” Kabuti said.

“This will open the door to commercial agriculture, which will go a long way in meeting our food security needs as a country, create jobs and transform livelihoods”.

Focus on Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs)

The dams will primarily serve irrigation schemes in arid and semi-arid counties, where large tracts of land remain underutilised.

Irrigation Secretary for Programmes Michael Thuita said these regions offer the greatest opportunity for scaling up irrigated farming.

“We are geared towards increasing the area under irrigation by promoting large dams in ASAL areas such as Mandera and the wider North Eastern region, Baringo, Turkana and the Galana area,” Thuita said.

“These regions have land, sunlight and labour, but lack reliable water infrastructure”.

Unlocking Potential in Neglected Regions

Kenya’s ASAL regions make up between 80 and 89 per cent of the country’s landmass, yet contribute a relatively small share of national food output.

Irrigation Secretary for Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management Joel Tanui said the government’s focus on these areas is long overdue.

“Under the land reclamation programme, we are aware that between 80 and 89 per cent of the country falls under arid and semi-arid areas,” Tanui said.

“This is where we will put a lot of focus because it holds the greatest potential for irrigation development in this country”.

Targeted Dam Locations

The planned dams include:

  • Lowaat Dam in Turkana County.

  • Radat Dam in Baringo County.

  • Thuci Dam in Embu County.

  • Basilinga Dam in Isiolo County.

  • High Falls Dam serving Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties.

  • Galana Dam spanning Tana River and Kilifi counties.

Economic Transformation and Food Security

Once completed, the projects are expected to support irrigation across approximately two million acres, boost agricultural production, reduce reliance on food imports and create new economic opportunities through agro-processing and rural employment.

Officials say that as climate-related shocks intensify, irrigation is no longer optional but essential for stabilising food supply and securing farmers’ livelihoods across the country.