On November 4, 2023 H.E. Hon. William Samoei Ruto, PhD., CGH. President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-In-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces accompanied by the Deputy President Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, Several Cabinet Secretaries, Senate Speaker Hon. Amason Kingi, Tana River County leaders led by the Governor H.E Rtd Major Dhado Godana, Coast Region Coordinator Rhoda Onyancha and other Narional and County leaders visited Bura Irrigation and Settlement Scheme headworks at Kora Kora in Bura Constituency, Tana River County.
They were received by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of water, Sanitation & Irrigation Mr. Zachariah M. Njeru, Principal Secretary State Department for Irrigation Mr. Ephantus Kimotho, Authority’s Chairman of the Board Eng. Gilbert Maluki, acting Chief Executive Officer Eng. Charles Muasya and other senior officials from the Authority.
The President officially opened the Bura Irrigation and Settlement Scheme Rehabilitation Project headworks gate and inspected the ongoing gravity canal works (phase II).
Phase I of the project entails sheet pilling and associated Korakora intake works and was started in October 2019. The phase is 99% complete and is expected to be complete by November 30, 2023.
Phase II of the project which entails 26 Km canal excavation, 26 Km construction of service road, 52 Km dyke construction and construction of 15 associated civilization structures is 53.4% complete and is expected to be complete by April 2024.
Upon completion, the project is expected to enhance food and nutrition security through production of 950,000 bags of rice per year and 500,000 bags of maize per year), increase the the economy of Bura from the current KES. 1.5 Billion per year to KES. 6.5 Billion per year,Increase employment opportunities in Bura from the current 30,000 to 150,000 jobs, promote industrialization (cotton, sunflower, soya beans and cereals processing), Save the pumping cost of KES. 120 Million per year, enable crop production intensification and Increase number of project beneficiaries from the current 2,500 households to 10,000 households.
The President was pleased with the progress of the works and promised his support towards the completion of the remaining bit of the project which will ensure the full potential of Bura Irrigation Scheme is realized thus increasing food production in the country in line with Botton-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA)