Overview: Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has committed to rehabilitating on-farm roads within the vast Mwea Irrigation Scheme, addressing infrastructure that has remained in deplorable condition for a long time. The initiative aims to facilitate the transportation of rice from farms and reduce production costs through improved access to markets.
The Full Story
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru addressed a meeting with rice farmers and local leaders regarding the critical state of infrastructure in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. While maintenance of on-farm roads lies with the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), the delay in rehabilitation has significantly affected the transportation of rice from farms. To address this, the Governor committed to providing machinery and fuel to facilitate murraming of the roads which have been impassable for long.
The upgrading is expected to make it easier for rice farmers to transport their produce to the market and reduce the cost of transport. Waiguru emphasized that the future prosperity of the region depends on protecting investments already made and ensuring that ongoing projects are completed. She noted that Mwea occupies a strategic place in Kirinyaga County and Kenya’s economy, given its position as the country’s leading rice-producing region and a major contributor to national food security.
The Governor highlighted that approximately 210,000 metric tonnes of rice are produced annually in the area, valued at about KSh15 billion. Behind these figures are thousands of farming households whose incomes depend on reliable irrigation, affordable inputs, access to markets, and efficient transport infrastructure. Government interventions have focused on addressing practical challenges that constrain production and profitability.
Through the county government, rice farmers have received mechanisation support, including harvesters, driers, planters, and weeders supplied to farmer groups to reduce labour costs, improve efficiency, and minimise post-harvest losses. The county has also invested in agricultural extension services, cooperative development, and farmer empowerment programmes to strengthen the entire rice value chain. At the national level, subsidised fertiliser, seedlings, agricultural programmes, and measures to support the market for locally produced rice have provided further assistance.
The Governor noted that such interventions work best when both levels of government continue to collaborate, giving farmers the confidence to invest in their land, expand production, and plan for the future. She pointed to national government efforts to purchase locally produced rice through the Kenya National Trading Corporation as an important element of market support, noting that dependable markets are essential if farmers are to benefit fully from increased production.
What This Means
The commitment to road rehabilitation and infrastructure development signals a broader focus on strengthening Mwea’s commercial, social, and urban environment. Beyond agriculture, the Governor outlined a development programme aimed at improving business and trade through investments in Wang’uru and Makutano markets, the ongoing Sagana Industrial Park, cabro-paved streets in Wang’uru, Kutus, and Kagio, and improvements to the road network.
Healthcare investments include Kimbimbi Level Four Hospital nearing completion, alongside the South Ngariama maternity wing, ongoing construction of KEMRI hospital, Mutithi Comprehensive Maternity Block, and additional dispensaries intended to bring services closer to residents. Other investments across the constituency include the ongoing KSh200 million bulk water project, the construction of ECDE classrooms, and the establishment of a seedlings propagation centre in Kangai.
Cooperation with the national government remains critical to completing major ongoing projects, particularly roads and markets, and sustaining the development momentum across the region. Leaders at the meeting credited the progress made to collaboration between the county executive, the County Assembly, and the national government, reinforcing the message that shared priority should be to produce more, reduce the cost of farming, improve farmers’ earnings, and create more opportunities for young people.
Consumer Takeaway
This development offers stakeholders in the region improved access to markets and reduced costs associated with transporting agricultural produce. The commitment to infrastructure ensures that ongoing projects are completed, protecting investments already made in the area. For residents of Mwea, the upgrades create a more supportive environment for business and trade while ensuring that government interventions effectively address practical challenges that constrain production and profitability.
Source: Read the original article
