The proposed Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project is increasingly being viewed as a transformative development initiative capable of reshaping agriculture, education and security in the Turkwel region, while also serving as a unifying platform for all communities living around Turkwel, including the Pokot, Turkana and other neighbouring groups.
This position emerged following a high-level consultative meeting between the leadership of the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), county officials and national government representatives, held ahead of the anticipated public participation forums. The meeting sought to harmonise institutional roles, clarify implementation strategies and ensure that community voices remain central as the project moves closer to execution.
The project is firmly anchored in President William Samoei Ruto’s national agenda of expanding irrigation as a sustainable response to food insecurity, unemployment and climate change. Leaders at the meeting emphasized that irrigation in arid and semi-arid areas is not only an agricultural intervention, but a strategic development tool with far-reaching social, economic and security implications.
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For the Turkwel region, the stakes are particularly high. The area, which spans parts of West Pokot County and borders Turkana County, has historically been restive. Cycles of insecurity have often been driven by competition over scarce water, pasture and arable land, compounded by prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall and limited economic opportunities. These challenges have left communities vulnerable to hunger, displacement and conflict.
Against this backdrop, the Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project is being framed as both a development and peace-building initiative. Once implemented, it will bring more than 3,000 hectares of land under irrigation using water from the Turkwel Dam, enabling year-round agricultural production in a region long constrained by climate variability.
Leaders noted that the project is designed to benefit all communities living around Turkwel, deliberately promoting shared use of resources and inclusive participation. By bringing together the Pokot, Turkana and other neighbouring communities around a common economic activity, the project is expected to strengthen inter-communal cooperation and reduce long-standing mistrust.
Agriculture lies at the core of the project’s vision. Reliable irrigation will allow farmers to diversify crops, increase yields and transition to modern, climate-smart farming practices. County agriculture departments, working in partnership with KVDA, are expected to provide extension services, farmer training and access to improved inputs and markets.
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The irrigation scheme is also projected to unlock opportunities along the agricultural value chain, including storage, processing, transport and trade. These activities are expected to create employment for local youth and women, injecting new life into the regional economy and reducing the economic frustrations that often fuel insecurity.
Education is another sector expected to benefit significantly from the project. Leaders observed that poverty and food insecurity have long undermined school attendance and retention in the Turkwel region. By stabilising household incomes and improving food availability, the project is expected to reduce school dropout rates and support better learning outcomes.
Increased local food production is also expected to strengthen school feeding programmes, which are vital in arid and semi-arid areas. Well-nourished learners are more likely to attend school consistently, concentrate in class and perform better academically, creating a positive cycle of education and development.
Security considerations featured prominently in the discussions. The Turkwel region’s history as a restive area has often been marked by sporadic conflict and banditry, frequently linked to resource scarcity. Leaders from both county and national government noted that shared economic projects can play a powerful role in addressing the root causes of insecurity.
By providing a predictable and jointly managed source of water and arable land, the Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project is expected to reduce competition over natural resources. The shared nature of the scheme is seen as a deliberate strategy to foster peaceful coexistence among communities that have previously found themselves in conflict.
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Public participation was emphasized as critical to achieving these outcomes. Residents from all communities living around Turkwel-Pokot, Turkana and others, have been encouraged to actively participate in the forthcoming forums. Their input is expected to shape project governance, land use arrangements and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
Strong coordination between institutions was also highlighted as essential. Participants stressed the importance of collaboration between KVDA, county governments, national ministries, security agencies and local leadership to ensure smooth implementation and accountability.
Those present at the meeting included KVDA Chairperson Mark Chesergon and Acting Managing Director Moses Kipchumba, Members of County Assembly Jane Mengich (Sekerr), Francis Loboo (Kasei) and Victor Siywat (Endough), County Executive Committee Members Wilfred Longironyang (Agriculture), William Petot (Water) and Esther Chelimo (Lands), representatives from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, and other county and national government officials.
As deliberations concluded, leaders expressed optimism that the Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project could mark a turning point for a region long characterised by marginalisation and unrest. By integrating agriculture, education and security, and by deliberately bringing together all communities living around Turkwel, the project is being hailed as a pathway to shared prosperity and lasting peace.
If implemented effectively, the project could transform Turkwel into a model of inclusive development, demonstrating how shared resources can unite communities, strengthen institutions and build a more stable and prosperous future for West Pokot, Turkana and the wider region.
By Hillary Muhalya
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