Garissa, Kenya — President William Ruto has announced an ambitious plan to transform Kenya’s northern and coastal regions into major food production hubs through the construction of 50 mega dams that will irrigate 1.5 million acres of land.
Speaking on Saturday in Masalani, Ijara Constituency, Garissa County, during the wedding ceremony of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Y. Haji—son of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji—and Jamila Mohammed Abdulgader Al Sawae, the President said the irrigation programme will unlock the agricultural potential of regions previously classified as low-productivity.
“In our plan for placing 2.5 million acres of land under irrigation, 1.5 million will be from Northern Kenya and the Coast regions,” he said, adding that the two regions will become Kenya’s new food baskets.
President Ruto also highlighted the High Grand Falls Dam, one of the flagship projects among the 50 mega dams. The multi-county project—stretching across Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui—will channel water into Garissa and support irrigation on between 300,000 and 400,000 acres.
“The biggest beneficiary of the High Grand Falls Dam… is going to be Garissa,” he said.
The Head of State noted that Kenya has historically relied on only 15% of its arable land, which receives adequate rainfall. “It is time to expand to the remaining 85% by storing water for irrigation,” he said, emphasizing that irrigation farming will make food production more predictable, reliable and resilient to climate change.
President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity across the country, saying that the administration is currently constructing 1,100 kilometres of road infrastructure in North Eastern.
Key projects include:
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410km Lamu–Ijara–Garissa–Garbatula Road, now 50% complete
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750km Isiolo–Mandera Road, described as the longest road project undertaken by any Kenyan administration
He further announced that the government is mapping out 28,000km of new roads for tarmacking nationwide, over and above the 22,000km built since independence.
“There is no way the country can be transformed if it is not connected,” he said.
The President said the education budget has risen from KSh 490 billion in 2021 to KSh 700 billion this year—equivalent to 30% of Kenya’s national budget.
This investment, he said, has enabled:
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Construction of 23,000 classrooms
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Ongoing works on 1,600 laboratories
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Recruitment of 100,000 teachers
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Increased funding for universities and TVET institutions
He explained that the objective is to equip Kenyans with high-quality skills to drive the country toward first-world status.
“No part of the country will be left behind,” Ruto said, pledging equal development across all regions.
The President also opened Yusuf Haji Girls Secondary School, handed over a school bus, and laid a foundation stone for the institution’s second phase of development.
In addition:
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He launched the 376-unit Ijara Affordable Housing Project
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Announced the construction of 32 new classrooms near the housing units
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Confirmed plans to upgrade Masalani Hospital
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Announced the establishment of a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in the region
These initiatives, he said, will expand access to healthcare and education while stimulating local economic growth.
President Ruto credited recent by-election victories across the country to a broad-based political alliance that agreed not to field competing candidates.
“We won because we made a deliberate decision not to run against each other,” he said, citing victories in Ugunja, Kasipul, Malava, Banisa, Magarini, Mbeere North and Baringo.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale praised the President for addressing historical injustices, particularly discrimination in the issuance of national identification documents in North Eastern.
Other leaders present included Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Governors Nathif Jama Adam (Garissa) and Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir (Mombasa), Senators Oburu Odinga (Siaya) and Ledama Olekina (Narok), as well as Garissa’s Haji Abdul Mohammed.
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