PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, STATE DEPARTMENT FOR IRRIGATION VISIT TO BURA IRRIGATION SCHEME.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, today led a high-level delegation to the Bura Irrigation Scheme. He was accompanied by Mr. Joel Tanui, Irrigation Secretary, Climate Resilience, Land Reclamation and Irrigation; Eng. Gilbert Maluki, Chairman, Board of Directors, National Irrigation Authority (NIA); Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS, Chief Executive Officer, NIA; and Eng. Jairus Serede, NIA Director, Irrigation Management Services and other senior government officials.

The team was received by Mr. David Koske, County Commissioner, Tana River and his County Security team, the Area MP Hon Yakub Kuno Adow, the scheme Manager James Kirimi, the Scheme Chairman of Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA) Mr. Abdilizak Madhobe, other local leaders, investors and farmers.

The visit is a culmination of a wider consultative engagements with farmers and local leaders on strengthening the sustainability of the Bura Irrigation Scheme as well as expansion of the area under irrigation especially after the completion of the gravity canal.

Addressing farmers at the Bura Irrigation scheme offices, The PS announced that 2,000 acres have already been allocated to the local farmers, additionally 4,000 acres will be allocated to cumulatively have 12,000 acres allocated to the local farmers for their use. To make use of the installed infrastructure, the investors will be allocated land for trials and production based on their requirements as submitted in their Expression of Interest.

He urged farmers to register with NIA offices to allow for allocation and processing of the farms as provided for in law. He confirmed that the bridge at Village 6 is scheduled to be completed within three months.

On the Presidential Directives, he reaffirmed the reduction of Operation & Maintenance (O & M) fees from Ksh 7,500 to Ksh 5,000 as directed by H.E. the President during his visited to the scheme.

The PS also emphasized the importance of investor participation in the scheme, noting that they must directly involve and empower local communities. Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, proceeds will go towards other community projects, while farmers will gain hands-on training on investors’ farms to strengthen capacity.

The meeting concluded with the PS assuring farmers that the Government remains committed to making the Bura Irrigation Scheme more sustainable and transformative, in line with H.E. President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The local leaders and farmers thanked the PS and National Irrigation Authority for their support and commitment to their welfare. They assured the PS that they are in agreement with agreed upon way forward and are fully committed to supporting the investors realize the country’s food security agenda.