Acres of rich volcanic soil lie barren in Murang’a as farmers plead for water to unlock the region’s massive agricultural potential.

In Githuuri village, Kiharu constituency, the irony is palpable. The land is undeniably fertile, capable of supporting high-value crops, yet it lies idle under the scorching sun. Residents are issuing a desperate appeal to the national government to expand irrigation services to this semi-arid pocket of Murang’a County. They argue that with just a little water, they could transform their dust bowls into food baskets, contributing significantly to the nation’s food security.

The Irrigation Gap

The farmers of Githuuri are victims of a localized geographical anomaly. While much of Murang’a is lush and well-watered, their specific zone falls into a rain shadow that mimics the arid conditions of the lower eastern regions. For years, they have relied on rain-fed agriculture, a practice that has become increasingly untenable due to changing climate patterns. The recent failure of the short rains has left them staring at crop failure and poverty.

"We have the soil, we have the will, but we lack the water," says a local community leader. The appeal is for the government to fast-track water projects that can tap into the nearby rivers and channel the resource to the farms. The infrastructure required—canals and pipes—is a capital investment that the villagers cannot afford on their own.

• Food Security Impact: If irrigated, this area could produce tons of vegetables, maize, and beans, supplying the nearby Nairobi market. The current idleness of the land is a wasted economic opportunity.
• Government Intervention: The residents are calling on the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to conduct a feasibility study immediately. They point to successful irrigation projects in neighbouring Mwea as proof of what is possible.

A Cry for Help

The situation in Kiharu is a microcosm of a larger national problem: the underutilisation of arable land due to water scarcity. As the government rolls out its agricultural transformation agenda, the farmers of Githuuri are asking not to be left behind. They are ready to work; they just need the government to turn on the tap.

Until the excavators arrive to dig the canals, the fertile red soil of Githuuri will remain a graveyard of potential, waiting for the life-giving touch of water.