President William Ruto has announced that his administration’s plan to construct 50 mega dams will open up 1.5 million acres of land for irrigation across northern and coastal Kenya, turning the regions into the country’s next major food production zones.
Addressing residents in Masalani, Ijara Constituency in Garissa County during the wedding of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Haji, son of National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji, the President said the new irrigation blocks will convert areas long considered low-potential into productive agricultural hubs.
“In our plan for placing 2.5 million acres of land under irrigation, 1.5 million of those will be from Northern Kenya and the Coast regions,” he said.
Ruto described the large-scale irrigation programme as a cornerstone of his food security agenda, saying it will expand production and help Kenya shift toward becoming a net exporter of agricultural commodities.
Among the projects lined up is the High Grand Falls Dam, which will be constructed along the Tana River in Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui counties. The dam will supply water to Garissa and power irrigation schemes projected to cover between 300,000 and 400,000 acres.
“For a very long time, we have only used 15 per cent of the land to grow and produce food. It is time to expand from that 15 per cent that has rainfall to the rest of the 85 per cent by storing water for irrigation,” he said.
Turning to infrastructure, Ruto reported that the government is tarmacking the 410-kilometre Lamu–Ijara–Garissa–Garbatula Road, which has reached 50 per cent completion. He added that the administration will also finish the 750-kilometre Isiolo–Mandera Road, bringing the total road network under construction in the North Eastern region to 1,100 kilometres.
“We have done 22,000 kilometres of roads in 60 years. My plan is to build an extra 28,000 kilometres to connect every part of Kenya,” he said.
On education, the President highlighted increased investments after the government raised the national education budget from KSh490 billion in 2021 to KSh700 billion this year, equivalent to 30 per cent of Kenya’s total spending. He said the additional funding has helped build 23,000 classrooms and 1,600 laboratories, hire 100,000 teachers, and expand support for universities and technical colleges.
Ruto pointed out that these investments aim to equip Kenyans with the skills needed to elevate the country to first-world status.
He also assured residents that North Eastern will continue to receive priority in national development plans. The President said the region’s unity played a pivotal role in the government’s recent by-election victories.
“The last by-elections have demonstrated what unity can do. We had joint broad-based candidates in Ugunja, Kasipul, Malava, Banisa, Magarini, Mbeere North and Baringo. That is why we won,” he said.
Earlier in Masalani, Ruto officially opened Yusuf Haji Girls Secondary School, handed over a new school bus, and broke ground for the school’s second phase of development. He also launched construction of 376 housing units under the Ijara Affordable Housing Project.
To support families expected to settle in the new housing units, the President said the government will build 32 new classrooms in neighbouring schools. He further unveiled plans to upgrade Masalani Hospital and construct a Kenya Medical Training College to boost healthcare services in the region.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale thanked the President, saying he had restored the dignity of North Eastern residents by improving access to government services and key national documents.
Several leaders attended the event, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Governors Nathif Jama Adam and Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Senators Oburu Odinga and Ledama Olekina, and other elected representatives from the region.
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