The Kenyan government has initiated a Sh1 billion irrigation program targeting Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties to bolster miraa (khat) production. The funding follows complaints from farmers about revenue losses after the United Kingdom banned khat exports in 2018.
A tender process is underway for 15 boreholes and six earth dams, with Embu receiving two boreholes and five dams, Meru 10 boreholes, and Tharaka Nithi three boreholes and one dam. Kimathi Munjuri, a member of the Miraa Technical Implementation Committee, stated the infrastructure would be installed at schools, police stations, and market centers, with water distribution networks covering 1.5 kilometers.
Embu farmers, represented by spokesman Pius Njiru, criticized the project scale and costs, claiming the Sh9 million per borehole and Sh6 million per dam were inflated. They have demanded the committee's dissolution, disputing the technical rationale for the water systems.
