Here is how many people Mengit Dam in Kuresoi will serve after expansion
The government is set to rehabilitate and expand the Mengit Dam in Nyota Ward, Kuresoi North Constituency, Nakuru County, in a move expected to improve water availability for smallholder irrigation, enhance food and nutrition security and strengthen livelihoods while supporting conservation efforts within the Mau Forest Complex.
The project, which will directly benefit an estimated 1,000 households, will establish a water reticulation system to support irrigation across approximately 600 acres, providing farmers with more reliable access to water for agricultural production and reducing their dependence on increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns. The rehabilitation of Mengit Dam will improve its water storage capacity and reliability.
The existing dam, which currently has a storage capacity of approximately 150,000 cubic metres, is targeted for expansion to about 400,000 cubic metres. The increased storage capacity will enhance water availability, particularly during dry and drought periods, while the planned reticulation infrastructure will enable the stored water to be distributed efficiently to farms for irrigation.
The investment is expected to transform agricultural production in the area by enabling farmers to engage in reliable irrigated farming, including the production of high-value crops, while also promoting integrated crop and livestock enterprises. By diversifying agricultural activities, households will have opportunities to increase farm productivity, generate additional income and build resilience against climate related shocks.
The project will further support school nutrition and environmental stewardship through drip-irrigated kitchen gardens, providing schools and communities with practical opportunities to promote sustainable food production and efficient use of water. The irrigation investment is being undertaken within the broader context of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, recognising the important relationship between the protection of the Mau ecosystem, water security and the livelihoods of communities in the surrounding areas.
It is against this backdrop that Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei was on Monday hosted by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho during an inspection of Mengit Dam as preparations continue for the 2nd Edition of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, patronised by Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change.
During the inspection, Mr. Koskei commended the State Department for Irrigation for its efforts to rehabilitate and redesign existing dams to respond to current agricultural and water management needs. He noted that investments such as the Mengit Dam rehabilitation will help unlock the agricultural potential of the area by providing farmers with a more consistent water supply, particularly during periods of drought, while supporting agricultural extension services and improved farming practices.
PS Kimotho noted that the expanded dam and irrigation system are expected to create employment and income opportunities for local communities, not only through agricultural production but also across related activities and value chains, including input supply, farm services, produce handling, marketing and other enterprises associated with increased agricultural activity.
