Kick-off for one of the largest irrigation projects in Kenya

The river carries important resources for local agriculture in Western Kenya: clean water. However, if it overflows its banks, the whole region suffers. For this reason, the Kenya Ministry of Water and Irrigation commissioned a project financed by the World Bank and the KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau).

The objective of the project is to improve flood protection and enhance irrigation of agricultural land on the Lower Nzoia. This will make it one of the largest irrigation projects in the country.

The joint venture consists of Lahmeyer International, a company of Tractebel, and GFA Consulting Group in association with the local firm Quadrant Engineering. The purpose of their commitment is to enable the East African country to implement up-to-date farming methods on increasingly large areas. Lahmeyer had been commissioned to provide a feasibility study and the design in the forefront.

Since the Lahmeyer water resources experts had submitted the best technical solution and have long-term experience in Africa, the Ministry decided to award the contract for the subsequent work to the engineering company, too. Project kick-off was in early November. The tasks of the Joint Venture include the tender design, contract management and construction supervision for the Lower Nzoia Project (Phase I).