Inspection of the Griftu Water Pan for Feedlot Project
Thursday, 6th November 2025
Wajir West Constituency
The Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, alongside his counterpart from the State Department for ASALs, PS Kello Harsama,CBS, today paid a visit to Wajir County, where they were hosted by the Governor and Chair of the Council of Governors, H.E. FCPA Ahmed Abdullahi, E.G.H.
The visit marked the inspection and appreciation of the Griftu Water Pan for Feedlot Project, a flagship initiative designed to boost agricultural productivity and enhance resilience in arid and semi-arid lands.
As part of the government’s commitment to prioritizing ASAL regions for agricultural development, the Griftu project plays a central role in reducing food imports, expanding exports, and empowering pastoral communities to embrace irrigation and livestock rearing as sustainable economic ventures.
Spanning 5,000 acres, the project features water pans with a combined storage capacity of 750,000 cubic metres. Once fully operational, it is projected to inject approximately Ksh 288 million annually into the local economy through agricultural production. The project will directly benefit 250 households and indirectly support an additional 700 households.
The Griftu project is expected to significantly increase red meat production by ensuring a consistent water supply for feedlots, livestock, and pasture development. It will further contribute to food security through improved household incomes, stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and promoting agribusiness, and strengthen climate resilience by mitigating the effects of drought.
Ultimately, it aims to transform rural livelihoods through sustainable livestock and crop production opportunities.
PS Kimotho noted that the project aligns with the Presidential directive to implement dam and water projects across the country, particularly in ASAL regions, to bolster food security and resilience against drought.
PS Harsama emphasized the whole-of-government approach in project implementation, reaffirming his department’s partnership in fencing and securing the 5,000-acre project area. He further highlighted the government’s broader plan to roll out similar projects nationwide to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Governor Abdullahi commended the State Department for Irrigation for its continued support, noting that the project’s steady implementation progress coincides with the anticipated onset of the rainy season.
Accompanying the Principal Secretaries were Mr. Joel Tanui, Irrigation Secretary in charge of Land Reclamation and Climate Resilience; Mr. Yatich Kipkemei, MBS, Secretary for Administration; Mr. Daniel Odero, Director for Irrigation Water Management; Mr. Thandi Githae, Director for Climate Resilience; Wajir County Commissioner Mr. Karuku Ngumo; and Ms. Wanjiku Manyatta, Director for Regional Development, among other senior officials from both the National and County governments.