Owalo hails Maragua irrigation project as a game-changer

BERNARD MUNYAO- KNA 

The Government is currently implementing an irrigation project at Maragua Ridge in Murang’a County, benefiting 848 households. The project, funded at a cost of Sh312 million, is 99 percent complete and will cover 400 acres in parts of Kambiti and Kamahuha Wards within Maragua Constituency.

Currently, the region relies on rain-fed agriculture, but the irrigation project is expected to transform the livelihoods of local residents, thereby boosting food security.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management in the Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, who visited the project, said some farmers were already accessing water for irrigation on their farms.

Owalo emphasized the significance of the project, stating that it would improve the lives of residents through irrigation farming while also ensuring access to water for household use.

He urged farmers to organize themselves effectively and venture into commercial farming to generate income from their land. “This irrigation project will be a gamechanger.

"Farmers need to be well-organized to receive the necessary government support, particularly in extension services and market access. This will ensure a vibrant rural economy with money circulating at the grassroots,” said Owalo, who was accompanied by Murang’a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha.

In the project being implemented by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), already 400 farmers are connected to the irrigation system, and over 12,700 jobs have been created through the project.

The irrigation project, the Deputy Chief of Staff said, is financially, socially and economically viable, saying it had a payback period of four years.

Owalo observed that the initiative was expected to enhance food security and spur economic growth, enabling farmers to cultivate fruits, vegetables, maize, and beans year-round.

He also visited affordable housing projects at Makuyu in Murang’a South SubCounty and Makenji in Kandara.The construction of 746 affordable housing units at Makuyu has commenced with Owalo saying the project will be funded to the tune of Sh1.8b.

The construction of the units which commenced three weeks ago is progressing well with more than 100 locals securing employment opportunities at the site.

At Makenji area, which is in Kandara Sub-County, the construction of 220 affordable housing units is 49 per cent complete. The Sh491.5-million project will provide affordable homes as well as generate employment opportunities for hundreds of local young people.

“These projects are more than just infrastructure as they symbolize a major leap forward in Murang’a’s economic and social transformation,” Owalo said.

“By enhancing food security, creating jobs, and expanding access to affordable housing, the government is ensuring lasting progress for the people of Murang’a,” he said.

Owalo added that with sustained government support and community collaboration, Murang’a is poised for unprecedented growth, ushering in a new era of prosperity for its residents.