Irrigation in Vihiga: Unlocking Potential or Repeating Mistakes?

They get it? Right! Wrong.

Recently, I came across an exciting conversation from the County Government of Vihiga about a new irrigation initiative: the Buhani Irrigation Scheme in Mungoma Ward. On paper, this is the kind of bold, climate-smart agriculture approach we need to secure food systems in the county. I want to commend this move—because irrigation is a proven way to boost agricultural productivity, enhance resilience to climate change, and support livelihoods.

Photo Credits: County Government of Vihiga

But looking deeper, I cannot ignore the lessons from past initiatives. One striking example is the massive irrigation project in Emuhaya Constituency, a venture that cost hundreds of millions. The infrastructural design was impressive: water flowing through gravity-powered systems, reaching farm after farm for several kilometers. For once, it looked like we had cracked the code of sustainable irrigation.

Yet the question lingers—where are the follow-up efforts? Are these systems being maintained, monitored, and optimized to truly serve farmers? Without clear strategies for sustainability, even the best-designed projects risk fading into white elephants.

This is where Vihiga holds untapped promise. With its rich network of rivers—River Ezava among them—alongside smaller riverines and water pans like Wakikuyu Dam, the county has a natural abundance of water. An intentional, well-managed investment in irrigation could unlock endless opportunities for sustained food production, job creation, and economic growth.

What’s at stake is bigger than food security. Without alternatives, communities are turning to rampant, reckless artisanal mining, degrading land and river ecosystems that should instead be harnessed for agriculture. Irrigation, if done right, offers a real path away from destructive practices toward a future of productivity and sustainability.

The question is not whether Vihiga has the resources—it does. The real question is whether leaders will commit to ensuring these irrigation schemes go beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies and actually transform the lives of farmers across the county.

About Author: Kevin Makova

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