THE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONS MARUGUA RIDGE IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

On April 3, 2025, H.E. Hon. William Samoei Ruto, PhD., C.G.H. President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces accompanied by Deputy President Hon. Prof Kithure Kindiki and Several Cabinet Secretaries and leaders from Murang’a County, commissioned the Maragua Ridge Irrigation Development Project in Maragua Constituency, Murang’a County.

They were received by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation Eng. Eric Mugaa, Principal Secretary State Department for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho CBS, Authority’s Chairman of the Board Eng. Gilbert Maluki, Chief Executive Officer Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS and other senior officials from the Authority.

The project is at 99% complete and currently under defects liability period. It draws water from Maragua Dam (Maragua River) and targets to irrigate 800 acres, with 400 acres already under irrigation infrastructure and in use. Phase 2 will put another 400 acres under irrigation. The total number of farmers benefiting from the project is 848.

With an estimated gross margin of KES 450,000 per year per acre from horticultural and food crop production, the project is expected to create 4,240 direct jobs and 8,480 indirect jobs, significantly boosting local employment and food security.

The President was pleased with the successful implementation of the project and noted that the government is working to improve lives across the entire country through irrigation. He urged farmers to fully utilise the installed infrastructure for irrigation to achieve the full potential of the Project to contribute to increased food production in the country as espoused in the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA).