Senate Committee on Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries Visit to Usueni Irrigation Scheme
The Senate Committee on Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries led by Chairperson. Sen. Peter Njeru Ndwiga visited Usueni Irrigation Scheme in Kitui County on October 14, 2021. The former vice president Hon. Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, area Member of Parliament Hon. Paul Nzengu, Kitui County Woman Rep. Hon. Dr. Irene Kasalu, Kitui County Agriculture Committee members and other senior government officials, accompanied them. The chair Sen. Ndwiga emphasised that the future of food security in Kenya is in irrigated agriculture, while the vice chair Sen. Enoch Wambua commended the National Irrigation Authority for the good work being done on the project.
Usueni Irrigiation scheme is located in Mwingi North Constituency, Kitui County and benefits 1000 persons directly and 5000 persons indirectly. The committee was pleased with the progress of works in the project and committed to lobby the National Government for funds to solarize the pumping system to generate 1500 kilowatts and the re-installation of the electric fence at an estimated cost of 300 million to stabilize the existing 1,000 acres and reduce the cost of production.
They further noted that the lasting solution is construction of the proposed gravity system and expansion of the project to irrigate 20,000 acres at an estimated cost of KSh. 2 billion. This will support over 10,000 households directly and 50,000 persons indirectly thus contributing to the Big 4 Agenda on Food Security and Nutrition.