By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, July 3, 2026 - The Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive scores of stalled water projects through the proposed National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), with Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki saying the initiative will finance the construction of 50 mega dams and 200 medium-sized dams across the country.
The projects, some of which have remained on the drawing board for more than three decades, are expected to transform irrigation, expand access to clean water and strengthen Kenya's food security.
Speaking on Friday after receiving a progress briefing from the Ministry of Water, Prof Kindiki said the National Infrastructure Fund would remove the financing bottlenecks that have slowed the implementation of critical water infrastructure.
"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," he said.
The Deputy President said the planned investments will bring an additional 2.5 million acres under irrigation, significantly boosting agricultural productivity and reducing the country's dependence on rain-fed farming.
"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.
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He noted that the expanded irrigation programme would play a key role in addressing Kenya's recurring food shortages while supporting economic growth through increased agricultural output.
Prof Kindiki also challenged the Ministry of Water, Principal Secretaries and heads of water agencies to accelerate the implementation of priority projects, saying Kenyans expect faster delivery of essential public services.
He directed the agencies to strengthen coordination among themselves and work closely with county governments to ensure efficient implementation of water programmes across the country.
The planned infrastructure drive forms part of the Government's broader strategy to accelerate economic development by investing in large-scale public infrastructure capable of supporting agriculture, industrialisation and universal access to water.