NIA HOSTS PRIME CS AT IRRIGATION DEMONSTRATION FARM DURING KAIMOSI EXPO
At the World Water Week 2026 side event in Stockholm, Sweden, the keynote address highlighted the role of the Water Availability and Demand (WAD) Tool in advancing data-driven irrigation and water resources management.
On behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, the Irrigation Secretary Mr. Joel Tanui, highlighted Kenya’s significant potential for irrigation development and emphasized the need to capitalize on reliable data, technology and digital tools to strengthen planning, investment and water resources management. He underscored Kenya’s agenda of expanding irrigation and water storage, noting that reliable data is critical for guiding investment decisions, supporting evidence-based irrigation designs, improving water management and enhancing climate resilience.
The Irrigation Secretary highlighted the WAD Tool as an important digital innovation that provides a critical link between water data, policy, planning and investment. The tool enables decision-makers to better understand water availability and demand and translate this information into practical interventions for sustainable irrigation development.
The National Irrigation Authority (NIA), represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Charles Muasya and Ag. Director Irrigation Management Services Eng. Jairus Serede participated as a panelists alongside the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI).
During the panel discussion, the NIA Chief Executive Officer applauded IWMI and FAO for their collaborative efforts in the co-development of the WAD Tool and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, knowledge sharing and additional capacity building to strengthen its application and institutional uptake.
The session concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to invest in the continued development, refinement and application of the WAD Tool to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable water management.
As Kenya expands its irrigation and water storage capacity, the commitment remains clear, to transform water data into actionable knowledge, translate knowledge into sound policy and convert policy into strategic investments that improve livelihoods, strengthen food security, enhance climate resilience and deliver sustainable water systems.