Background Information

Mwea Irrigation Settlement Scheme (MIS) is located in Kirinyaga County and falls within two sub counties; Mwea East and Mwea West sub counties. Development of the Scheme started in 1954 from the Tebere section with about 65 acres in irrigation farming and has since grown to the current 30,600 acres under irrigation.

The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has improved, rehabilitated and developed irrigation infrastructure for the farmers to engage in production activities. The Scheme lies along the drainage basins of Rivers Nyamindi and Thiba which supply the irrigation water. The Scheme area is largely plane and predominantly covered with black cotton soils, with a few raised spots of red soil. Rice paddies have been developed on the low areas that are covered with black cotton soils while the high spots covered with red soils have been reserved for settlement and production of upland crops.

The current approach to Scheme management is Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), where the government through National Irrigation Authority and the farmers through their organizations (Irrigation Water User Association (IWUA), Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose (MRGM) and Lainisha Sacco) have partnered in management of the irrigation scheme. Each of the four i.e. the Authority, IWUA, MRGM and Lainisha, have clearly defined roles in PIM. The Irrigation Authority’s key responsibility in Scheme management is operation and maintenance of the primary and secondary infrastructure; while the farmers are responsible for the tertiary infrastructure. Other roles include land administration, capacity building, irrigation expansion and rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure.

Current Status

Thiba dam’s completion has expanded the irrigated area within the Scheme from 25,000 acres to 30,600 acres, a game-changer for farmers. The increased acreage will double rice production and significantly boost the region’s agricultural output.

The value of rice produced at the Scheme since the completion of the dam has grown from KSh10 billion to KSh14 billion a year, creating additional 28,000 jobs that have improved the living standards and enhanced skills development.

Projected Benefits/ Benefits being realized

  • To increase the area under irrigation from the current 25,000 acres to a potential 35,000 acres in a season .
  • Support double cropping putting 70,000 acres under irrigation in a year
  • Increase rice production from the current 114,000 MT to 200,000 MT in Mwea
  • Increase value of production from the current Kshs.10 billion to Kshs. 18 billion annually
  • Create additional 50,000 jobs leading to a cumulative 175,000 jobs in a year.
  • Over 13 large private rice mills have come up for rice value addition
  • Baling of rice straws as fodder for livestock in the region
  • Improved the livelihoods of farmers in the community
  • Supporting trade within and outside the county.
  • Settlement of the landless members of the society.

Mwea Irrigation Scheme Layout Map

A farmer at Mwea Irrigation Scheme

Statistical Data

Location/County Mwea East and West Sub Counties, Kirinyaga County. Approximately 100km North East of Nairobi City
Year of Establishment 1954
Acreage Irrigated area – 30,600 acres (20,000 acres in the main scheme area and 10,600 acres in the expansion areas
No. of Farmers 14,850
Main Crop Rice (96%)
Other Crops Horticultural crops (tomatoes and french beans)
Source of Irrigation Water Rivers Nyamindi and Thiba
Type of Irrigation Basin irrigation system and partially lined open canals to convey water to the farms

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