Kenya Seeks Portuguese Alliance for Major Irrigation Schemes

The State Department for Irrigation is seeking a strategic collaboration with the Government of Portugal to support the implementation of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), which targets bringing an additional one million acres under irrigation across the country.

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, who met the Portuguese Ambassador to Kenya Paulo Neves Pocinho, said the talks focused on strengthening cooperation between the two nations through technical support, investment partnerships, and knowledge exchange.

The bilateral meeting took place at the Embassy of Portugal in Nairobi, where the two officials discussed the frameworks of the proposed infrastructure partnership.

According to the Principal Secretary, Kenya aims to tap into the experience of Portugal in sustainable irrigation infrastructure development, specifically focusing on the modernisation and expansion of civilian irrigation and drainage systems.

Proposed areas of engineering cooperation include direct investments in the construction of dams, reliable water abstraction systems, improvement of water conveyance infrastructure, and canal lining to significantly reduce water losses while improving national irrigation efficiency.

The high-level talks also explored available opportunities for Portuguese engineering firms and financiers to participate in large-scale irrigation projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), targeting commercial irrigation and corporate food production initiatives.

The State Department for Irrigation noted that the partnership would also support smallholder farmers through farmer-led irrigation development initiatives, aimed at expanding localized agrarian infrastructure.

Portugal’s Small Projects Fund was identified during the diplomatic session as a potential source of direct financing for these community-based irrigation projects to improve rural livelihoods.

The engineering discussions further focused on strengthening broader water resource development to improve raw water availability for irrigation, and enhance climate resilience in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Expanding sustainable irrigation civil infrastructure in these dry regions is expected to support year-round farming, reduce national reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and improve overall national agricultural output.

The Principal Secretary was accompanied to the diplomatic meeting by the Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilistion, Florence Ndai.