Kenya Reveals New Strategy to Expand Irrigation Amid Climate Change

Kenya is stepping up the use of data to guide irrigation planning, water storage and investment decisions as it seeks to expand irrigated agriculture and strengthen management of its water resources.

Speaking at a side event during World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, Secretary for Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management Joel Tanui said reliable information will be critical as the country decides where to direct resources.

He delivered a keynote address at a session focused on the Water Availability and Demand (WAD) Tool. This digital platform brings together information on water availability, agricultural demand, crop patterns and storage potential.

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Data to Shape Irrigation Planning

Tanui said Kenya must have a clear picture of its water resources before expanding irrigation and investing in storage infrastructure.

“Investment decisions must be informed by accurate, timely and accessible information on where water is available, how much is required, and where storage and irrigation investments can deliver the greatest impact,” he said.

The WAD Tool combines satellite-based information, water accounting data and spatial analysis to help planners assess water supply against agricultural demand.

Developed through a partnership involving the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the platform can help identify areas with potential for irrigation and water storage.

For Kenya, such information could help determine which projects are viable before resources are committed, particularly as climate variability continues to affect farming.

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Tool to Support Investment Decisions

Kenya formally handed the WAD Tool to the National Irrigation Authority in January 2026, giving the agency responsibility for its use and management.

Officials said the platform would support irrigation planning, water allocation, investment decisions and the development of viable projects.

Its use comes as Kenya seeks to expand irrigated agriculture, improve food security and reduce reliance on increasingly unpredictable rainfall.

Growing demand from agriculture, households, industry and environmental needs also makes better water planning important. Data can help authorities balance those competing demands while identifying investments that can deliver long-term benefits.

World Water Week 2026, running from August 23 to 27 in Stockholm, has brought together policymakers, researchers and water-sector practitioners to discuss water challenges under the theme “Water for People and Progress.”

For Kenya, the focus on data offers a way to make irrigation expansion more targeted while ensuring water resources are managed sustainably.

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National Irrigation Authority Head Office in Nairobi. PHOTO/ File