LAUNCH OF TIRWANE-TIRONE IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Today, His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruth, PhD., C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, officially launched the Tirwane-Tirone Irrigation Development Project in Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

He was accompanied by officials from both the national and county government and was received by the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa; the Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS; the Irrigation Secretary for Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation, Mr. Joel Tanui; the Chairman of the Board, National Irrigation Authority, Eng. Gilbert Maluki; the CEO of the National Irrigation Authority, Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS; and other officials from the Authority.

The President encouraged farmers to grow high-value crops such as fruit trees, pyrethrum, coffee, and tea once the project is complete assuring them of a ready market.

The National Irrigation Authority is rehabilitating and expanding the project to cover 1,060 acres, benefiting 4,240 households directly and 21,200 households indirectly—enhancing food security and promoting economic empowerment.

Upon completion, the project will create employment opportunities for 4,240 households directly and 21,200 households indirectly. It will also enhance food security, support economic empowerment, and promote wealth creation through the diversification of income via the sale of high-value horticultural crops.

Additional benefits include contributing to the national GDP by generating an estimated annual gross income of KES 636 million (KES 600,000 per acre). The project will serve as a source of raw materials for the manufacturing sector and help cushion beneficiaries against the adverse effects of climate change.

The National Irrigation Authority remains committed to implementing irrigation projects across the country to support food security and foster a prosperous, food-secure nation in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) on food security.