Gov’t targets 200,000 acres in Turkana irrigation expansion

Turkana County is emerging as a key frontier in Kenya’s agricultural expansion plans, with the government targeting 200,000 acres under irrigation in the arid region as part of a broader national strategy.

Despite its largely dry conditions, the county has demonstrated significant agricultural potential, with water scarcity identified as the main barrier to productivity.

“Nationally, Kenya is targeting an additional 2,000,000 acres under irrigation, with Turkana alone projected to contribute approximately 200,000 acres about 10% of this expansion by harnessing laggah (seasonal river) flows and underground water resources,” he said.

“These laggah water will be tapped and stored in dams key among them the proposed Turkwell dam, Lowaat Dam, and other planned water infrastructure to support sustainable irrigation.”

Turkana has also been identified as a priority area for large-scale irrigation commercialisation, alongside community-based projects designed to empower local farmers, enhance food security, and create economic opportunities.

The Turkwel Dam, with a capacity of approximately 2.6 million cubic metres, plays a central role in supporting irrigation in the region.

The Nanyee Irrigation Scheme, currently covering about 7,000 acres, faces water management challenges, but planned interventions are expected to increase coverage.

“Ongoing and planned interventions including the construction of embankments, canals, and improved water abstraction from River Turkwel, are expected to expand irrigation coverage to up to 10,000 acres,” stated the PS.

At the same time, a micro-irrigation project was commissioned at Alfred Powery School, where two acres have been set aside for irrigation, with 0.5 acres to be developed in the current phase.

Given the high yield of the existing borehole, the school and the surrounding community have called for expanded water storage and irrigation capacity to support food production and school feeding programmes.

The PS underscored that these initiatives support the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and improving livelihoods at the community level.