Mwea Irrigation Scheme Farmers Raise Infrastructure Concerns During Unit Leaders Elections. скачать в хорошем качестве

Mwea Irrigation Scheme Farmers Raise Infrastructure Concerns During Unit Leaders Elections.

Farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme used today's unit leaders elections as an opportunity to voice deep concerns over deteriorating infrastructure and financial accountability, expressing hope that incoming leaders will champion long-overdue reforms. The elections, held on February 17, 2026, drew a strong turnout across the scheme, with officials crediting thorough mobilization efforts for the smooth exercise. Leah Wamutira, Chief of Thiba, expressed satisfaction with how the day unfolded. "We are glad about the turnout — mobilization was done well," she said, adding that any issues that emerged during the electoral process were resolved promptly on site. Behind the celebratory mood, however, lay simmering frustrations. Farmers took the occasion to spotlight two pressing grievances that they say continue to undermine their livelihoods: the poor state of on-farm roads and questions surrounding the Ksh. 5,000 annual Operation and Maintenance fee paid through the government's eCitizen platform. On the roads question, farmers say the neglect of internal farm roads is hitting them directly in the pocket. Joseph Maina, who was among the aspirants for the Line Leader position, put the cost into stark figures. "We pay Ksh. 300 to transport rice from the farm to the highway," he said, attributing the steep haulage cost entirely to the deplorable condition of the roads linking farms to main routes. For smallholder farmers already operating on tight margins, such additional costs eat significantly into already modest earnings, making what should be a routine logistics expense a genuine financial burden. The second grievance centers on financial transparency. Farmers pay a mandatory Ksh. 5,000 fee annually through eCitizen — money designated for the operation and maintenance of the irrigation infrastructure they depend on. Yet many say they see little evidence of those funds being channeled back into meaningful improvements on the ground. "We do not know if the money we pay comes back to us," Maina noted, capturing a sentiment widely shared among farmers who say they expect far more in terms of infrastructure upkeep given the amounts they contribute each year. The dual concerns — crumbling roads and opaque fee management — paint a picture of a scheme where farmers feel the financial obligations placed on them have not been matched by proportional investment in the facilities that sustain their work. With new unit leaders set to take office following today's elections, farmers are cautiously optimistic. They hope the fresh leadership will treat infrastructure rehabilitation and financial accountability not as peripheral issues, but as central priorities that directly determine whether the Mwea Irrigation Scheme can continue to thrive as one of Kenya's most vital rice-producing regions.