Friday, 28 February, 2025
Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation Committee meets MDAs over the 2025 Budget Policy Statement𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓..
The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Muriithi Mugaa, has called on the Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation Committee to adequately fund the Ministry, to enable it to deliver its key targets on the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) projects, the Vision 2030 and Medium-Term goals.
"Most projects we are supposed to implement, we are not properly resourced, based on the key infrastructure projects that I have assessed. I beseech the Committee that our investment in infrastructure requires resources, and without adequate resources as a Ministry, we are crippled," said CS Mugaa.
The CS made these remarks as the State Departments of Water and Sanitation, and Irrigation, presented their 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
The Committee's Chairperson Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), heard from the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Irrigation Eng. Ephantus Kimotho that the State Department is facing a Kshs. 31.8 billion resource gap in the FY 2025/26 allocation, from the State Department's resource requirement of Kshs. 50.7 billion, against a proposed allocation of Kshs. 18.8 billon.
"This drop will adversely affect the implementation of ongoing projects due to inadequate budget allocations. This will cause delays in project completion, result to projects stalling and pending bills," noted PS Kimotho.
PS Kimotho therefore called on the Committee to consider an additional allocation of Kshs. 12.29 billion, as the gross budgetary deficit.
The Committee Chairperson was curious to know what success stories the State Department can share in regards to various developmental projects being implemented across the country.
"We have put a lot of money under the State Department of irrigation, both at the National Water Harvesting & Storage Authority and the National Irrigation Authority. What have you achieved in terms of food security?" asked Hon. Bowen.
In response, PS Kimotho cited several gains, including the increase of rice production to 270,000 metric tonnes, following the completion of Thiba Dam expanding acreage under irrigation for Mwea Irrigation Development project and double cropping. The PS projects that Kenya will stop importation of rice by 2032.
Further, the State Department has also completed the Bura Irrigation Project gravity intake and 26 km canal, which the President will commission this week, saving tax payers Kshs. 120 million annually.
In addition, the half year of FY 2024/25 increased the area under irrigation by 10,494 acres from National Expanded Irrigation Programme, Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme and Waga Machame irrigation project in Kwale county.
The revenue shortfall challenge was also cited by the PS, State Department for Water and Sanitation Mr. Julius Korir, while appearing before the Committee in the afternoon.
"The State Department has a total resource requirement of Kshs. 93.8 billion in the Financial Year 2025/26. However, the BPS has allocated Kshs. 46.1 billion, indicating a revenue shortfall of Kshs. 47.7 billion," submitted PS Korir.
On pending bills, the PS noted that the State Department has outstanding historical pending bills totalling Kshs. 16.1 billion, which exposes the State Department to legal implications due to the delay in payments, and attracts additional charges on penalties and interest hence increasing cost of project implementation.
CS Mugaa was also taken to task on the allocation of donor funds in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas, with some counties having up to four donor fund allocations as well as Government of Kenya funding, while other counties have zero donor funding, with Members calling for equity in distribution of funds, as well as a detailed list of all donor-funded projects and their current status.