Directorates
1. Irrigation and Drainage Development Directorate
The functions of the Directorate are as follows:
(i) Develop and review of the irrigation policy, regulations, standards, guidelines, strategies, plans, programmes and projects on irrigation and drainage as outlined in the Executive Order No.1 of 2023, CoK 2010, Irrigation Policy 2017 and Irrigation Act 2019;
(ii) Coordinate implementation of strategic plans, national irrigation master plans and financial investment plans for irrigation infrastructure development in collaboration with relevant stakeholders as per Irrigation Act 2019 Section 6(5);
(iii) Oversee compliance to standards on irrigation infrastructure designs and auxiliary facilities as per Irrigation (General) Regulations 2021 section 15, 20(6) and 21(1);
(iv) Monitor quality control of irrigation infrastructure and auxiliary facilities as per Irrigation (General) Regulations 2021 section 20(6) and 21(1);
(v) Coordinate implementation of national irrigation programs and projects in collaboration with county governments and other relevant stakeholders; as per Irrigation Act 2019 Section 8(2)(h);
(vi) Provide technical advice on the provision of irrigation contracts and consultancy services; as per Irrigation Act 2019 section 8(1)(c);
(vii) Provide capacity building and technical support to the counties on irrigation and drainage development as per CoK 2010 forth schedule No. 25;
(viii) Promote Public-Private-Partnerships in irrigation development and management as per Irrigation Act 2019 Section 8(2)(e) and Irrigation (General) Regulations section 16(4);
(ix) Coordinate monitoring and evaluation of irrigation infrastructure development, maintenance and operations as per the Irrigation Act 2019 Section 6(2)(a);
(x) Provide technical support and services in development and management of community-based irrigation schemes as per the Irrigation Act 2019 Section 8(2)(h);
(xi) Establish and maintain linkages and networking with stakeholders on irrigation and drainage development as per the Irrigation Act 2019 Section 8(2)(i); and
(xii) Develop and maintain an irrigation database and integrate systematic monitoring and evaluation as per the Irrigation Act 2019 Section 6(2)(i).
The Directorate is further organized into the following three (3) Divisions;
1.Irrigation Infrastructure Development Division
2. Irrigation Systems Operation and Maintenance Division
3. Irrigation Mapping and Designation Division
2. Irrigation Sector Development Co-ordination Directorate
The functions of the Directorate are:
i) To coordinate formulation, implementation and review of National Irrigation policies, strategies, standards, guidelines, procedures and frameworks;
ii) To coordinate development, implementation and review of legislation and regulations pertaining to Irrigation;
iii) To coordinate development and implementation of Irrigation Reforms;
iv) To coordinate irrigation sector policy and strategy development, implementation and review;
v) To coordinate monitoring and evaluation of irrigation policies and programmes;
vi)To establish Irrigation databases and information management systems;
vii) To form partnerships and collaborations in support of irrigations activities, projects and programmes; and
viii)To coordinate mobilization of resources for implementation of irrigation programmes and projects.
The Directorate is further organized into the following four (4) Divisions: -
a) Irrigation Policy and Strategy Coordination division
b) Resource Mobilization and innovative sector financing Division
c) M&E and sector performance reporting Division
d) Partnerships, linkages and collaborations division
3. Irrigation Quality Assurance and Licensing Directorate,
The functions of the Directorate are: -
(i) Develop, implement and review of the National irrigation and Water Harvesting and storage policies, regulations, standards, licensing, guidelines, strategies, plans, programmes, design manuals and projects on irrigation and drainage and water harvesting and storage infrastructure;
(ii)Enforcement of Development of operation and maintenance manuals for the different irrigation systems and water harvesting and storage structures;
(iii) Coordinate irrigation, drainage, Water harvesting and storage project assessments, research, innovations and technology development;
(iv) Monitor and carry out periodic performance assessment on suitability of irrigation technologies; and Monitor quality control of irrigation infrastructure and auxiliary facilities; and Develop, maintain and update irrigation database;
(v) Provide capacity building and technical support to the counties on irrigation, drainage development, Water harvesting and Storage.
(vi) Initiate, develop and Implement reforms relating to licensing, standards and quality assurance of Irrigation, Drainage, Water harvesting and Storage development and operation.
(vii) Implement and review programmes, projects and plans pertaining to irrigation standards, quality assurance and licensing;
(viii) Coordinate the making of rules for the establishment and governance of IWUAs;
(ix) and establish, maintain and updated annually a master register of all Associations registered under these regulations; (x) Coordinate the supervision of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) projects where NIA is the implementing agency;
(xi) Coordinate issuance of irrigation licenses for irrigation schemes, monitor compliance and enforce conditions attached to licenses; and oversee compliance to standards on irrigation infrastructure Water harvesting and storage designs and auxiliary facilities; and establish and maintain a register of all irrigation licenses and licensed irrigation schemes;
(xii) Coordinate the development of an appropriate tariff structure from time to time in liaison with WRA for any individual, entity or agency developing bulk water.
The Directorate is further organized into the following three (3) Divisions: -
a) Irrigation Licensing Division
b) Regulations and Standards Division
c) Enforcement and Compliance / Quality Assurance Division
1. Land Reclamation, Ecosystem Restoration and Management Directorate
The functions of the Directorate are: -
(i) Design, develop and implement Land Reclamation, water storage and flood control structures (for Land Reclamation, rehabilitation and restoration)
(ii) Oversee mapping and designate areas that require reclamation through water storage and flood mitigation;
(iii) Conduct feasibility studies, for water storage for Land Reclamation, and flood control structures & promote flood control through utilization of floodwaters for production
(iv)Enhance productivity of wastelands/degraded lands through water harvesting, storage and Irrigation; & improve livelihoods through productivity of wasteland/degraded lands using water harvesting and land resources;
(v) Initiate, develop and manage land reclamation projects and programs on increasing productivity and utilization of degraded lands through nature-based solutions;
(vi) Monitor and evaluate Water Storage for Land Reclamation & Flood mitigation projects & Programmes; water and food security for climate proofing compliance of projects & Programmes.
The Directorate is further organized into the following four(4) Divisions as follows: -
a) Land Reclamation Programme Coordination;
b) Land Reclamation & Ecosystem Restoration; and
c) Reclaimed Land Management.
d) Land Reclamation Standards & Quality Assurance
2. Climate Resilience for Water and Food Security Directorate
The functions of the Directorate are: -
(i) Development of policies, legislations, strategies ,plans and guidelines relevant to climate resilience in climate change adaptation for land owners
(ii) Coordinate/manage development, review and implementation of agenda, strategies, programs for climate change resilience.
(iii) Coordinate mainstreaming of climate change action plan in the State Department as outlined in Article 15 (5) of the Climate Change Act 2016;
(iv) Coordinate implementation of climate change obligations in the sector including multilateral agreements, climate finance and negotiations, presidential directives among others;
(v) Initiate, develop and manage land reclamation projects and programs on increasing productivity and utilization of degraded lands through nature-based solutions;
(vi) Sectoral climate finance mobilization and coordination for climate adaptation and mitigation and implementation of climate actions for community resilience and food security;
(vii) Form partnerships and collaborations in support of Land reclamation, Climate Resilience for water and food security activities in accordance with CoK, 2010;
(viii) Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Verification of Climate Resilience Interventions and Documentation of Best Practices
(ix) Commercialization of land reclamation and climate resilience initiatives including carbon trading
(x) Promote climate smart resilience technologies for landscape restoration initiatives in the country & Facilitate the establishment of Climate smart resilience Centers’ of Excellence in Kenya
(xi) Coordinate the formulation and implementation of Resource mobilization strategies for climate change resilience.
(xii) Develop guidelines, standards and best practices for research climate change resilience in restoration sector
The Directorate is organized into the following three (3) Divisions: -
a) Climate adaptation Division
b) Climate change mitigation and livelihood improvement Division
c) Water storage and flood control Management Division
3. Irrigation Water Management, Harvesting and Storage Directorate
The functions of the Directorate are: -
(i) Coordinate implementation and review national irrigation policies, strategies, standards, guidelines, procedures and frameworks on irrigation water use and management of irrigation schemes;
(ii) Coordinate implementation and review programmes and projects pertaining to irrigation schemes management & productivity, and irrigation reforms, research, innovation and capacity strengthening;
(iii) Initiate, develop, implement and review of legislations and regulations pertaining to irrigation water use and schemes management;
(iv) Mobilize resources, involve private sector and form partnerships and collaborations for implementation of irrigation research, innovations, capacity strengthening projects and programmes and schemes management including productivity improvement to counties, IWUAs and stakeholders;
(v)Oversee Irrigation water development and management in schemes by promoting water saving technologies and efficient on-farm water in schemes across the country and promote best Irrigation agronomic practices and irrigated enterprises
(vi)Oversee Irrigation schemes operations and maintenance by undertaking periodic surveys, assessments on performance providing technical assistance on establishment of irrigation water users’ associations (IWUAs) for management of community-based irrigation schemes;
(vii) Establish and maintain a database on Irrigation schemes, irrigation research, innovations, irrigation technologies and capacity building initiatives, and ensure efficient records management;
(viii) Develop and review training master plan, manuals for capacity building on irrigation infrastructure development, water use, management and regulation of irrigation in liaison with counties and other stakeholders;
(ix) Coordinate mainstreaming of climate-smart irrigation water use technologies and innovations in irrigation schemes; and
(x) Liaise with training institutions in the development of curricula for training irrigation water management professionals and practitioners.
(xi) Formulate, implement and review Policies, Strategies, Guidelines, Procedures and Frameworks on water harvesting and storage, and groundwater exploitation for Irrigation;
(xii) Formulate, implement and review programmes and projects pertaining to irrigation water harvesting and storage, and exploitation of groundwater;
(xiii) Map and designate areas ideal for irrigation water harvesting and storage development;
(xiv) Provide technical support and capacity building to stakeholders and counties on irrigation water harvesting and storage;
(xv) Mobilize resources for implementation of water harvesting and storage projects and programmes;
(xvi) Mobilize resources for flood control
(xvii) Form partnerships in support of water harvesting and storage activities including exploitation of ground water;
(xviii) Establish databases and information on irrigation water harvesting and storage;
(xix) Undertake technical audits and assessments on development and management of water harvesting and storage infrastructure;
(xx) Monitor and evaluate implementation of programmes and projects on irrigation water harvesting and storage including exploitation of groundwater;
(xxi) Promote use of efficient technologies and construction techniques in irrigation water harvesting and storage development.
The Directorate has the following Divisions;
a) Irrigation water management
b) Irrigation water harvesting and storage
c) Land reclamation Standards and Quality Assurance
The state Department is structured into two technical arms, each with several technical directorates as outlined below:
Irrigation Infrastructure Development and Management
- Irrigation and Drainage Development Directorate
- Irrigation Sector Development Co-ordination Directorate
- Irrigation Quality Assurance and Licensing Directorate