President William Ruto has announced that the construction of 50 mega dams will enable irrigation of 1.5 million acres of land across northern and coastal Kenya, transforming the regions into the country’s newest food production hubs.

Speaking in Masalani, Ijara Constituency in Garissa County during the wedding ceremony of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Haji, son of National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji, the President stated that irrigation will shift areas previously classified as low-potential into high-yield agricultural zones.

“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 said the irrigation programme is central to strengthening food security and positioning Kenya as a net exporter of agricultural products.

One of the flagship projects, the High Grand Falls Dam, will be built along the Tana River in Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui counties, supplying water to Garissa and supporting irrigation that could cover between 300,000 and 400,000 acres.

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“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.

On infrastructure, the President said the government is tarmacking the 410-kilometre Lamu–Ijara–Garissa–Garbatula Road, which he noted is now 50 per cent complete. He added that the 750-kilometre Isiolo–Mandera Road will also be completed within the current administration, bringing the 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, Ruto said the government increased the national education budget from KSh490 billion in 2021 to KSh700 billion this year, amounting to 30 per cent of the country’s spending. 

The investment, he said, has improved infrastructure through the construction of 23,000 classrooms and 1,600 laboratories, enabled the hiring of 100,000 teachers, and expanded funding for universities and colleges.

He emphasized that this investment is aimed at empowering Kenyans with skills needed to elevate the country towards first-world status.

The President also assured residents that North Eastern will not be left behind in national development. He highlighted the region’s role in the government’s broad-based alliance, crediting unity for victories in the recent by-elections.

“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, the President officially opened Yusuf Haji Girls Secondary School, handed over a school bus, and laid the foundation stone for the institution’s second development phase. He also launched construction of 376 housing units under the Ijara Affordable Housing Project.

To accommodate families expected to settle in the new housing project, Ruto said the government will build 32 classrooms in nearby schools. He further announced plans to upgrade Masalani Hospital and construct a Kenya Medical Training College to strengthen healthcare in the region.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale thanked the President for what he described as restoring the dignity of North Eastern residents, citing improved access to national documents and services.

Other leaders present included 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 several elected leaders from the region.