Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said the county will provide machinery and fuel to re‑grade the on‑farm roads of the Mwea irrigation scheme, which have been impassable and raised production costs.

She noted that while the National Irrigation Authority is responsible for road maintenance, delays have hindered the transport of rice from farms to markets.

Mwea currently yields about 210,000 metric tonnes of rice annually, valued at roughly KSh15 billion, underpinning the livelihoods of thousands of farming households.

The county has already supplied mechanisation equipment such as harvesters, dryers, planters and weeders to farmer groups to cut labour costs and minimise post‑harvest losses.

National interventions, including subsidised fertilizer, seedlings and a guaranteed market through Kenya National Trading Corporation, complement the county’s efforts.

Waiguru urged residents to sustain development gains by maintaining engagement with both county and national governments, emphasizing that continued collaboration is essential for completing ongoing projects.

Local leaders, including County Assembly Speaker Muteti Murimi and Majority Leader Benson Ngahu, praised the governor’s focus on infrastructure, health and market projects that support the broader rice value chain.