Kenya launches 10-year irrigation strategy with Gates Foundation to boost food security
via Tuko2 min read
The Kenyan government has launched a 10-year irrigation strategy aimed at expanding irrigation by one million acres to enhance food security, create jobs, and improve farmer livelihoods. The plan, unveiled at the Sustainable Irrigation Scaling Coordination Convening in Nairobi, was jointly hosted by the State Department for Irrigation and the Gates Foundation. Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho stated that the initiative marks a new phase in Kenya's irrigation development, bringing together various stakeholders including national and county governments, development partners, financial institutions, and farmer groups. Kimotho reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan NISIP 2025-2035, which is a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda BETA. He noted that while Kenya has the potential to irrigate over 3.35 million acres, only about 762,000 acres are currently under irrigation. Bridging this gap will require increased funding, stronger coordination, innovation, and sustained collaboration. The annual convening is expected to serve as a permanent platform for aligning stakeholders to maximize investment impact. The Gates Foundation is partnering with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation to mobilize investment, strengthen innovation, and transform the lives of smallholder farmers. Representatives from the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, International Fund
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Tuk-tuk operators in Mombasa, under the Boda Boda and Tuk Tuk Transport Cooperative Union of Kenya BOTUK, have issued a seven-day strike notice to the county government. They demand the immediate suspension of the National Transport and Safety Authority's NTSA Instant Fines Management System and new registration requirements, which they claim are crippling their businesses. The Instant Fines Management System imposes a KSh 5,000 penalty for each traffic violation, which BOTUK Secretary Morara Omanga states becomes overwhelming for owners with multiple vehicles. Operators also cite concerns over widespread speed camera use and a KSh 5,000 parking fee per vehicle, adding to financial pressure. They accuse the county government of introducing policies without consultation and continuing to demand payments despite a court order suspending the disputed fines. The union warns that high registration costs could lead to job losses for young people and an increase in crime. This strike notice comes ahead of planned Saba Saba protests, with Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud stating that no formal notification for demonstrations has been received, and any gatherings would be considered unlawful.
Must ReadThe Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC has announced plans to recover KSh 1.5 billion paid out in the Ruaraka land compensation saga, following a Court of Appeal decision. The appellate court upheld an earlier ruling that declared the disputed land, occupied by Ruaraka High School and Drive Inn Primary School, to be public property. The EACC stated that the compensation paid to two private companies, Afrison Export Import Limited and Huelands Limited through Whispering Palms Estate Limited, was unlawful because the government cannot compulsorily acquire land it already owns. The commission will also revive criminal proceedings against individuals involved in processing the compensation, with investigation files to be resubmitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP. The EACC urged the Ministry of Education and the National Land Commission to process title deeds for the land. The case has previously been linked to several senior government officials, including former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, former Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, former Lands Principal Secretary Mariamu El Maawy, and former National Land Commission chair Muhammad Swazuri.
A High Court in Nairobi has awarded a former Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology JKUAT student KSh 8 million in compensation for unlawful assault, arrest, and detention by police officers during student protests in November 2019. Justice Patricia Nyaundi ruled that the student's constitutional rights, including human dignity, freedom from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and security of the person, were violated. The court directed the Inspector General of the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions ODPP to jointly pay the compensation. The student was allegedly confronted, assaulted, and arrested by police without justification, beaten, kicked, and denied medical treatment while detained in poor conditions. He was later released without being formally charged. Video footage confirmed the assault, and although the ODPP found sufficient evidence to prosecute the officers, the matter was referred to a diversion program that was not implemented. The court found this failure denied the student access to justice. Medical and psychological assessments indicated the student suffered physical injuries and trauma, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This judgment comes amid ongoing public debate and scrutiny over police conduct during demonstrations.