NAIROBI, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the proposed National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) will play a pivotal role in addressing Kenya’s long-standing water shortages by financing the construction of 50 mega dams and 200 mid-sized dams across the country.
Speaking at Harambee House Annex on Friday after receiving a progress update on the water sector, Kindiki said the fund is expected to unlock critical infrastructure projects that have remained on the drawing board for decades because of inadequate financing.
“The establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund will go a long way in advancing the long-delayed objective of having adequate water for irrigation and domestic use,” Kindiki said.
According to the Deputy President, several of the planned dams have been awaiting implementation for more than 30 years.
He said the projects would significantly expand irrigation, placing an additional 2.5 million acres of land under cultivation to boost agricultural production and strengthen the country’s food security.
“It is expected to use the NIF to build 50 mega dams and 200 mid-sized dams, some of which have been in the plans for more than 30 years but could not be constructed due to funding constraints,” he said.
Kindiki added that the expanded irrigation network would help increase farm productivity while reducing Kenya’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Water sector reforms
The Deputy President met the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the water sector, Principal Secretaries and heads of state water agencies to review progress on the government’s water infrastructure agenda.
He called for greater collaboration among institutions involved in water development to accelerate implementation of priority projects.
Kindiki also urged the agencies to strengthen coordination with county governments to improve service delivery and ensure water projects are completed on schedule.
“I urged them to promote teamwork, expedite the pace of delivery and work with all stakeholders, including county governments, to ensure seamless service delivery,” he said.