Multibillion-shilling irrigation schemes across Kenya's Coast region are failing to deliver on their promise of food security, leaving vast tracts of fertile land idle and pushing young people away from farming.

• Billions of shillings have been invested in mega irrigation projects like Galana-Kulalu, Bura Irrigation Scheme, and Mwache Multipurpose Dam.
• Key stakeholders include the National Irrigation Authority, county governments (e.g., Taita Taveta), and international financiers like the World Bank.
• Contributing factors include prolonged droughts, poorly maintained canals clogged with silt and weeds, rising production costs, inadequate inputs, and unreliable markets, forcing farmers to abandon agriculture for other livelihoods like motorcycle transport.