President Ruto: Government to invest in dams for food production

President William Ruto says intense investment in sustainable irrigation will help address the food crisis in the country.

The President on Thursday said the government has prioritised the construction and expansion of dams to rebuild agricultural activities, aimed at boosting food production.

He noted that dams hold immense power to stimulate food production as it cuts over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

Speaking in Fulugani, Kwale County, during the ground-breaking of the construction of Mwache Dam said improved food production means improved earnings for farmers.

“If we produce more food, it means more earnings for our farmers and more jobs for our youth,” said the Head of State.

The dam is set to be completed in August 2026, with the President stating that the Sh18 billion project will provide water to irrigate at least 7,000 acres of land in Kwale, producing Sh1.3 billion worth of food a year.

He noted that the dam will supply more than 230 Million litres of water a day for both irrigation and domestic use.

“This will benefit at least 1.6 Million people in Kwale and Mombasa Counties.”

The number is expected to go up to 2 million by 2030.

Additionally, the government plans to build 100 large and 1,000 small dams across the country, hence ncreasing the acreage under irrigation from the current 670,000 to 3 million.

Kwale governor Fatuma Achani said they are focussed on delivering on their pre-election promises to her people.

“We will not engage in sideshows like the recent protests; they add no value in the lives of the people.”

Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Public Service CS Aisha Jumwa, Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Salim Mvurya, Governors Abdullswamad Nassir (Mombasa) and Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta) are among leaders who attended the event.