President William Ruto has announced an ambitious nationwide water infrastructure programme centred on the construction of 50 mega dams, in a bid to expand irrigation and lift agricultural output across Kenya.
Speaking during the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations held in Wajir County, the President said the government also plans to construct 200 medium and small dams, alongside thousands of micro-dams, to ease water shortages and open up new farming zones.
He said the combined projects are expected to bring about 2.5 million additional acres under irrigation within the next five to seven years.
“My administration has set the ambition to build 50 mega dams across the country, 200 medium and small dams and thousands of micro dams, projects that will bring 2.5 million additional acres under irrigation and food production and export production within the next five to seven years,” the President said.
The announcement comes as the government continues to lean on large-scale infrastructure as part of its wider development plan, with a strong focus on food security and rural economies.
The President argued that improved water access would help reduce the country’s vulnerability to drought and unlock agricultural potential in arid and semi-arid regions, especially in the north.
He said areas such as Northern Kenya should no longer be seen only through the lens of scarcity.
“For too long, Northern Kenya was viewed through the lens of scarcity. Today, we recognise its immense potential in renewable energy, livestock production, irrigated agriculture, trade, logistics and regional commerce,” he said.
The President pointed to the region’s location along key regional corridors, saying it sits at the crossroads of trade routes linking Kenya to Ethiopia and Somalia.
Several major water projects have already been identified under the plan. These include the Bute Dam in Wajir, High Grand Falls on the Tana River, a proposed dam on the River Daua in Mandera, and developments across the Ewaso Nyiro basin, among others.
The President said each project is intended to support farming, livestock production and local enterprise in regions that have historically lagged behind in infrastructure investment.
Infrastructure Push Tied to Wider Economic Agenda
“Each of these dams is a statement that no county is too remote to deserve investment and no river too far to be harnessed for the good of Kenya,” he said.
The government has linked the plan to its broader economic agenda aimed at expanding opportunity beyond traditional urban centres. Officials say improved irrigation could help stabilise food supplies and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
Still, large infrastructure programmes of this scale often raise questions about financing, environmental impact, and implementation timelines, issues likely to draw scrutiny as the projects move from announcement to execution.
The President maintained that the initiative is central to his administration’s vision of inclusive growth, insisting that development must reach all regions equally.
“For decades, some parts of our country were told they were too distant, too dry, too difficult or too marginal to matter. Today, from Wajir, Kenya rejects that thinking,” he said.
About the Author
