Kenya is set to end rice imports by 2032, following the completion of ongoing irrigation projects, according to Ephantus Kimotho, Principal Secretary for Irrigation. The country currently faces an annual rice deficit of 770,000 metric tonnes, forcing it to spend approximately $300 million (Sh38.83 billion) each year to meet demand. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that while annual rice consumption exceeds one million metric tonnes, local production stands at just 230,000 metric tonnes.

Kimotho highlighted significant progress in boosting rice production, noting that the completion of the Thiba Dam and expanded irrigation in the Mwea irrigation development project has increased output from 190,000 metric tonnes to 270,000 metric tonnes. Additionally, the Bura irrigation project, set to be commissioned this week, is expected to save taxpayers Sh120 million annually. The project includes a gravity intake system and a 26-kilometre canal, marking a critical step toward self-sufficiency.

The Kenyan government is also advancing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives to further enhance production. The Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, for instance, will see private investors farming on 5,400 acres starting April 2025. Successful trials on 538 acres yielded 35 bags per acre, prompting plans to expand the project to 200,000 acres. Two private entities, Selu Ltd and Al Dahra Group, have already expressed interest, with the latter signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Irrigation Authority and Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) to conduct technical studies.

Other key projects include the Galana Dam, Thuci Dam in Embu County, and the High Grand Falls Dam project, which spans Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, and Tana River counties. These projects are expected to break ground later this year. However, some initiatives, such as the Siyoi-Muruny Dam in West Pokot and the Umaa Dam in Kitui County, face delays due to inadequate funding and are now slated for completion in the 2025/26 financial year.

Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to its irrigation goals. The State Department of Irrigation requires Sh50.75 billion for the 2025/26 financial year but has only been allocated Sh18.863 billion, leaving a significant deficit. The ministry plans to rehabilitate 18,500 acres in Bura, expand irrigation by 34,900 acres, and complete the Mwache Dam by 2027. Additional efforts include licensing 320 irrigation schemes, equipping 70 schools with irrigation facilities, and increasing water storage by 13.3 million cubic meters.

These initiatives aim to not only boost rice production but also enhance flood control and water management, positioning Kenya to achieve food security and reduce reliance on imports by 2032.