Arise Media 
BY RITA MUTHONI
Through the Ministry of Water, sanitation, and irrigation, the Kenyan Government has reviewed its policies on the construction of dams to provide farmers with enough water for irrigation.
State Department for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho said easy accessibility to adequate irrigation water would empower farmers to produce in high volumes.
“With high production, we will have enough food for consumption and take the surplus to the proposed County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIP) for their sustainability,” he said.
Kimotho said out of the 100 proposed dams set to be constructed nationally, 12 are under the social dam program, and the remaining 88 would be built through public-private partnership (PPP).
This would enable the government to procure and deliver the dam while leveraging resources and expertise.
The PS said in Embu County, Thuci Dam will be constructed under the social dam program to benefit 2,400 farmers under Kagaari-Kyeni-Gituri irrigation (KKG).
He revealed that the KKG project initially spent 700 million, and farmers can raise a billion yearly to maintain the project.
Kimotho added that the government was using irrigation among other programs to boost food security in the country.
“We are impressed with the impact of the Kagaari-Kyeni-Gaturi Irrigation Project completed in 2015. The project has created 33,750 jobs directly and indirectly, improving livelihoods and enhancing food security,” he said.
During his visit to conduct inspections and monitor Embu County irrigation project progress on Tuesday, Kimotho emphasized the need for locals to have committees running their water programs transparently and trustily.
He was content that in Embu, various water programs were going well.
On her part, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire said the construction of Thuci Dam would bolster the KKG Irrigation Project, extending its coverage to a broader jurisdiction.
Mbarire noted that farmers in Embu County are cultivating mangoes, avocados, and other crops under the CAIP, which will provide them with market accessibility and opportunities to benefit from the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) program.
“The proposed County Aggregation and Industrial Park will be critical for value addition and market linkages, boosting farmers’ incomes and promoting contract farming,” she said.
The CEO of the National Irrigation Authority, Charles Mutinda accompanied the PS. Other leaders present were Hon. Njoki Njeru (Embu Woman rep), Hon. Josiah Thiriku (Speaker of the Embu County Assembly), Hon. Murithi Kobole (MCA Mbeti North), Hon. Duncan Mbui (MCA Evurore Ward), and Hon. Julius Karuri (MCA Kithimu Ward).
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