High level engagements focused on the Daua River Basin
Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho Kimani - PS, on wednesday, January 28th, 2026, joined the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH, in high level engagements focused on the Daua River Basin, a critical lifeline for over three million people across the drought prone tri -border Mandera Triangle linking Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
The Daua River Basin underpins irrigation, livestock production, and livelihoods in one of the country’s most climate vulnerable regions. The team met leaders from Mandera County, led by Governor Mohamed Khalif, alongside officials from IGAD and the Government of Kenya, to advance plans for the Daua River Dam—the proposed second-largest dam in Kenya, with a projected storage capacity of 2 billion cubic metres.
Covering a 160 km riverine ecosystem spanning approximately 9,000 km², the proposed dam has the potential to irrigate up to 1.2 million acres, positioning it as a transformative investment for food security in Northern Kenya and the wider national economy.
On the sidelines of the African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, engagements with Ethiopian government officials are planned to align and fast track implementation of this strategic project. Anchored under the Daua River Basin Initiative, the dam is designed to enhance cross-border cooperation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods across the region.
Also in attendance were Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to the Republic of Kenya, and Mr. Mohamed “Simba” Guleid, Coordinator of the North and Northeast Development Initiative (NEDI).