In a milestone for climate-resilient agriculture, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) officially launched the Water Availability and Demand (WAD) Tool at NIA Headquarters. The handover, presided over by Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, marks a major step in Kenya’s shift from reactive water management to data-driven, proactive governance, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands.
The ceremony convened senior officials from the State Department for Irrigation, IWMI, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), and was hosted by NIA Chief Executive Officer Charles Muasya, MBS, alongside the Authority’s management and staff.
A Precision Solution for Water Scarcity
Kenya has historically faced challenges in monitoring water usage, especially in counties like Meru, Laikipia, Samburu, and Isiolo, where water abstractions often went unrecorded. The WAD Tool closes this “data divide” by leveraging FAO’s WaPOR portal to deliver high-resolution, real-time insights.
Key capabilities of the WAD Tool include:
- Cropland Mapping: High-resolution identification of crop types and land cover.
- Precision Accounting: Accurate calculation of crop water requirements and identification of geographic water deficits or surpluses.
- Storage Suitability: Mapping optimal locations for runoff storage to support supplemental irrigation during dry spells.
- Investment Readiness: Providing “bankable” evidence for Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the irrigation sector.
PS Kimotho highlighted that the tool aligns with Kenya’s strategy to scale irrigated agriculture, strengthen food security, reduce imports, and attract investment. Integrating the WAD Tool into the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) Management Information System creates a unified platform for water availability, demand analysis, and irrigation performance data, strengthening transparency, coordination, and results-based management.
Scaling Across Africa
While Kenya is the first to host this WAD dashboard, the tool forms part of the Digital Innovations for Water Secure Africa (DIWASA) initiative, a broader continental movement. Similar satellite-based water accounting technologies are being deployed across Africa:
- Ethiopia: Monitoring inefficiencies in the Amibara Irrigation Scheme.
- Ghana: Quantifying water loss and adequacy for the Bontanga Irrigation Project.
- Zambia: Enhancing evidence for water permit systems in the Lunsemfwa Basin.
By demonstrating scalable, evidence-based digital governance, Kenya is setting a regional standard for climate-smart irrigation investments.
Securing the Future of Irrigation
Developed collaboratively by NIA and IWMI under FAO’s WaPOR Project, the WAD Tool converts satellite data into actionable insights for decision-makers. Users can assess water availability, analyze crop patterns, identify suitable storage locations, and guide strategic investment decisions.
Staff training in system administration and data management ensures sustainability, with NIA assuming full ownership while IWMI provides ongoing technical support. PS Kimotho noted that credible, transparent data from the WAD Tool will help de-risk investments, design bankable projects, and enable structured PPPs aligned with national development objectives.
“The handover of the WAD Tool is a decisive step toward a more coordinated, investment-ready, and future-proof irrigation sector,” said PS Kimotho. “It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to partnerships that deliver measurable results, unlock blended finance, and scale climate-resilient solutions.”
By “making the invisible visible” through satellite data, the WAD Tool ensures irrigation expansion in Kenya remains sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient. The platform positions Kenya as a leader in digital water governance, providing critical data to inform investment, policy, and regional water management strategies. Beyond monitoring, the tool enhances transparency in water allocation, supports evidence-based planning, and strengthens accountability for both public and private actors. Its integration into national investment frameworks helps de-risk irrigation projects, accelerate blended finance, and facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange—an essential step as African nations adapt to recurring droughts, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising food demand driven by population growth and urbanization.
