Over 1000 households to benefit as gov't targets 600 acres of irrigation in Nakuru

More than 1,000 households in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County, are set to benefit from the rehabilitation and expansion of Mengit Dam, as the government moves to put about 600 acres of farmland under irrigation.

The project in Nyota Ward will see the dam’s current storage capacity increased from about 150,000 cubic metres to approximately 400,000 cubic metres, with a water reticulation system planned to distribute water to farms.

According to Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, the expanded water infrastructure is expected to help farmers maintain production during dry periods and reduce reliance on increasingly unpredictable rainfall.

The project will support the production of high-value crops as well as integrated crop and livestock farming, creating opportunities for households to increase farm productivity and incomes.

The government also plans to establish drip-irrigated kitchen gardens in schools as part of efforts to improve nutrition and promote efficient use of water.

PS Kimotho on Monday accompanied State House Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to inspect the dam as preparations continued for the second edition of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme.

Koskei commended the State Department for Irrigation for rehabilitating and redesigning existing dams to meet current agricultural and water management needs.

He said the Mengit Dam project would provide farmers with a more reliable water supply, particularly during drought, while supporting agricultural extension services and improved farming practices.

Kimotho on his part said the expanded dam and irrigation system would create employment and income opportunities beyond farming through activities such as agricultural input supply, farm services, produce handling and marketing.

The project is being implemented within the broader Mau Forest Complex conservation programme, with the government linking improved livelihoods around the forest to efforts to protect the ecosystem and its role as a major water catchment.

The initiative is also part of government measures to address drought impacts and improve food security under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Also present during the inspection were Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono, Secretary for Administration Yatich Kipkemei, Irrigation Secretary Joel Tanui, Kuresoi North MP Mutai Kiprono Alfred and Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule, among other national and county government officials.