In this article, we will look at the functions of the National Irrigation Authority. It is a state corporation under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. The authority was established on August 16, 2019, by the Irrigation Act No. 14 of 2019 as a successor institution of the National Irrigation Board.
The National Irrigation Authority is mandated to develop, manage, and regulate irrigation to support sustainable food security and socioeconomic development in Kenya. Below are the authority’s functions stipulated by the Irrigation Act No. 14 of 2019.
Functions Of The National Irrigation Authority
1. It develops and improves irrigation infrastructure for national schemes.
2. It provides irrigation support services to private medium and smallholder schemes, in consultation and cooperation with county governments and other stakeholders.
3. The authority provides technical advisory services to irrigation schemes in design, construction supervision, administration, operation and maintenance under appropriate modalities, including agency contracts.
4. It undertakes irrigation development, including infrastructure, in national or public and smallholder schemes, including schemes which traverse or straddle more than one country.
5. In consultation with county governments, it facilitates the formation and strengthening of irrigation water users’ associations, scheme management committees, and dispute resolution committees at the scheme level for operation.
6. In consultation with the cabinet secretary, the cabinet secretary for the time being responsible for finance, and the county governments, the authority raises funds for the development of infrastructure in national, public and smallholder schemes under appropriate mechanisms, including under agency contracts.
7. It provides technical advisory services on a commercial basis, on irrigation water management, including water harvesting and storage, and wastewater recycling for agricultural use to all schemes under appropriate modalities, including agency contracts.
8. It facilitates linkages between and among the national government and county governments, private sector, civil society organizations, communities and other stakeholders for the provision of support services to irrigation water user associations.
9. It provides land in national irrigation schemes for public purposes.
10. In collaboration with county governments and other stakeholders, the authority promotes the marketing, safe storage and processing of crops, animal and fish products grown or produced on national and other irrigation schemes in liaison with responsible state agencies and organizations.
11. It carries out periodic research to determine and make recommendations on fair prices for crops, animals and fish products grown or produced on national and other irrigation schemes.
The National Irrigation Authority Contacts
Head Office: Irrigation House, Lenana Road, Nairobi
Contact: + 254 711 061 000
Email: ceo@irrigation.go.ke
