The government has set aside Sh. 1.2 billion to implement three irrigation projects in different parts of Murang’a County in an effort to boost food production.
Water Principal Secretary Mr. Joseph Irungu said the projects Nginda, Mirira and Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga will be commissioned before April this year.
The PS was speaking in Murang’a yesterday while leading a team from his ministry and National Irrigation Authority to inspect areas where the projects will be implemented.
Irungu observed that the Sh. 217 million Nginda irrigation project in Maragua constituency will be launched this Friday (tomorrow) by Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government.
“Nginda Project will cover an area of 675 acres and is targeted to benefit more than 1, 300 residents. Once completed, semi-arid areas of Maragua will be utilized through irrigation farming,” added the PS.
Mirira and Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga projects which are in Kiharu constituency will be commissioned before end of March.
Mirira project funded at a tune of Sh. 550 million will cover an area of more than 2,000 acres and is expected to benefit 2, 300 households. Once completed, the PS said the project will support farming in lower parts of Kiharu which usually receive minimal rainfall.
The other project, Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga is targeted to cover 585 acres and benefit 1,170 families.
Irungu observed that the projects are expected to be completed by September 2021 saying irrigation farming will assist in boosting food security in the county.
Chairman of National Irrigation Authority Joshua Toro observed that the authority is committed to complete all irrigation projects which have stalled.
Toro said they have factored money to revive the stalled projects before embarking in implementing new projects.
He underscored irrigation farming saying the initiatives will ensure the country attains its food security agenda.
“There are many irrigation projects initiated in various counties, Murang’a included and once complete, the food security will be assured. The projects are also targeted to create employment to thousands of Kenyans,” added Toro.
Kiharu Legislator Ndindi Nyoro and his Maragua counterpart Mary Waithera lauded the government for the water projects being implemented in their constituencies.
Waithira said a big part of her constituency is semi- arid and thus the irrigation project will go a long way in boosting farming.
Nyoro said apart from the two projects, the government has also lined up several water projects to increase water connectivity in his constituency.
By Bernard Munyao
