Kenya launches US$1.1M Ziwa 2 irrigation project for 1,000 farmers

KENYA – President William Ruto has inaugurated the first phase of the Ziwa 2 irrigation project in Uasin Gishu County a KSh147 million (US$1.13 million) project expected to benefit 1,000 farmers by irrigating 500 acres of farmland, according to the government.

The project aims to help 1,000 households transition from predominantly rain-fed farming to irrigated agricultural production.

According to government projections, each household could achieve an average annual income of KSh200,000 (US$1,542) per acre across two cropping seasons.

In addition, the development will enable farmers to farm year-round, increase agricultural productivity, and raise their incomes, Ruto said in a post on X.

The KSh147 million (US$1.13 million) project has increased the dam’s water storage capacity to one million cubic meters through dredging and embankment reconstruction, according to the government.

Workers have installed two solar-powered pumping systems, each with a capacity of 50 cubic metres per hour. Construction began in June 2025, and authorities expect to complete all work by the end of November 2026.

Beyond the 1,000 farmers directly involved, the project is expected to benefit another 5,000 people, and farmers will also receive support with farm management and market access.

For investors, the significance lies in the economics of irrigation. The agricultural sector accounts for approximately 22% of GDP and employs nearly 46% of Kenya’s workforce, according to government data.

Yet in 2023, Kenya had 711,933 acres of land equipped for irrigation, equivalent to approximately 288,000 hectares, representing less than 5% of the country’s arable land, according to the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan.

As a result, limited irrigation coverage challenges smallholder farmers, many of whom earn relatively low incomes. According to Farm Africa, smallholders produce 63% of Kenya’s food but earn an average of less than US$3,000 annually.

The income projections for Ziwa 2 farmers, US$1,542 per acre over two seasons, highlight the gap between current smallholder earnings and the potential returns from irrigated production.

Kenya plans a second phase of the Ziwa 2 project to extend irrigation to another 2,000 acres (approximately 809 hectares) and serve 4,000 additional households, according to the government.

Finally, at the national level, the government intends to mobilize US$1.5 billion by 2030 under its National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan 2026–2030 to support irrigation expansion, including an additional 200,000 hectares, while attracting US$2.8 billion in private investment for water infrastructure.

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