Sh270 million water projects to expand irrigation in Nandi county

Farmers in Nandi County are set to benefit from four irrigation and water infrastructure projects worth Sh270 million aimed at increasing agricultural production, improving food security and reducing dependence on unreliable rainfall.

The projects, being implemented by the State Department for Irrigation, will cover Nandi Hills, Tinderet and Mosop constituencies, with investments targeting improved water availability for farming and greater resilience to climate change.

The largest investment is the Sh100 million Bombo-Chemelil Irrigation Project in Tinderet, followed by the Sh80 million Kapnyamis Dam project in Nandi Hills.

The other projects include the Sh50 million Siwo Irrigation Project, also in Nandi Hills, and the Sh40 million Kipchutoiwo Dam project in Mosop Constituency.

Secretary for Land Reclamation and Climate Resilience at the State Department for Irrigation, Joel Tanui, recently led government officials on a tour of the project sites to assess their preparedness ahead of implementation, which is expected to commence this month.

Tanui said the Bombo-Chemelil Irrigation Project would provide farmers in Tinderet Sub-County with reliable water for irrigation, reducing their dependence on rainfall.

“The investment will help farming households reduce their dependence on rainfall, diversify crop production and improve the consistency of their harvests,” he said.

He added that the Kapnyamis Dam and Siwo Irrigation Project would improve water availability for farming activities in Nandi Hills, supporting increased agricultural production.

The Kipchutoiwo Dam project in Mosop is also expected to strengthen water management and support agricultural activities among local farming communities.

Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge welcomed the investments, saying they would improve livelihoods, particularly among women and small-scale farmers who depend heavily on agriculture.

“Most women do the hard labour on farms but have no control over the income,” she said.

Muge noted that improved access to irrigation water would enable farmers to cultivate their land throughout the year, increase production and explore more profitable agricultural activities.

She said reliable water supplies would particularly benefit women by creating opportunities to venture into higher-value enterprises such as vegetable farming.

For small-scale farmers, access to dependable irrigation is expected to provide greater control over planting schedules and reduce the uncertainty associated with seasonal rainfall.

John Chumo, a farmer from Songhor-Soba Ward, said a reliable water supply would help farmers organise their agricultural activities more effectively.

The projects are expected to strengthen Nandi County’s agricultural potential by providing infrastructure to support year-round farming, improve household food security and create additional income opportunities.

The investments also reflect the government’s broader push to expand irrigation infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture and strengthen the country’s capacity to withstand changing weather patterns.

Once completed, the four projects are expected to improve water access for farming communities across the three constituencies while supporting more consistent agricultural production.