By Paul Mutua                                  

The Sh3 billion Usueni Irrigation Project in Wikithuki location in Tseikuru District, Kitui County, is expected to transform the arid area into a food basket.

Speaking during a tour of the 5,000-acre project, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said that with the new project economic evolution is expected to be achieved faster.

Kalonzo said the scheme would expand tenfold as local farmers had offered additional 100,000 acres of land.

“This irrigation project will mark the transition from arid zone to green belt. The Government is to spend Sh3 billion in the next three years to irrigate additional 95,000 acres to eliminate the dependence on unreliable rain for agriculture,” the VP said.

First phase

Agriculture PS Dr Romano Kiome accompanied Kalonzo during the tour.

The Mwingi North MP said the project would be implemented in phases. He said Sh300 million would be used in the first phase to water from River Tana to the scheme.

The VP added that Unibee Construction Limited Company had been allocated Sh120 million to build a pump house, erect live fencing and supply of electricity.

“The region has the potential of feeding the whole region when it is utilised to its full scale. The Government is ready to irrigate the area so that the residents get enough food not only for their consumption but also export to other areas,” the vice-president added.

He explained that the project was within the Vision 2030 goals of expanding the area under irrigation and the first phase will see 1,500 households irrigate 500 acres out of the proposed 8,000 acres.

The VP said besides the irrigation works, the Government is also constructing a Sh50 million airstrip in the area to position the scheme as an attractive agricultural investment zone.

Kalonzo lamented that for years, the Government had been spending billions of money to mitigate effects of drought by importing maize to build up strategic grain reserve and distribute throughout the country.

The PS said the Government would disburse the Sh300 million directly to the National Irrigation Board to ensure faster implementation and would also lead other efforts to fundraise more funds from donors.

Dr Romano said the project had potential to achieve up to 100,000 acres of irrigated land in the region due to the nature of terrain and availability of land.

Others who a companied Kalonzo were Co-operative secretary Daniel Maanzo, Kyuso Knut branch Executive Secretary Ms Agnes Kambua Musee and Tseikuru DC Stephen Momanyi accompanied Kalonzo.

While addressing a rally at Wikithuki shopping centre in Musavani division later, the VP said he was not bothered by critics who were out to spoil his presidential ambition by persistently blaming him for their woes.

He said could not have won six consecutive elections if the electorate had no confidence in his leadership.