Bungoma Irrigation Dams: A Misplaced Priority or a problem solving mechanism?
Bungoma County is blessed with abundant rainfall and fertile soils—making it one of Kenya’s most productive agricultural regions. So why is there talk of building a massive irrigation dam in a place that doesn’t suffer from water scarcity?
The truth is, this is a classic case of misplaced priorities and public fund wastage. Our farmers are not crying out for irrigation—they’re asking for better roads, affordable farm inputs, reliable markets, and storage facilities. These are the real issues choking agricultural growth.
Pouring millions into a dam where rain already falls freely is not development—it’s a political showpiece. Worse still, similar projects across Kenya have turned into abandoned “white elephants” due to poor planning and lack of community need.
Bungoma doesn’t need flashy monuments. It needs focused leadership that invests where the impact is real.
~ By Harrison Neondo, Political Communicator and an Advocate for People-First Development ~
