Eng. Stephen Owino Oduor

Professional Summary

Eng. Stephen Owino Oduor is a Kenyan registered Professional Engineer specializing in water resources, irrigation, drainage and hydraulic infrastructure development. With more than 13 years of engineering experience, he has contributed to the planning, feasibility assessment, detailed design, rehabilitation and construction supervision of major irrigation and water infrastructure projects across Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering from the University of Nairobi, with specialization in Water Resources, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. He is registered with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK A4215), is a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK M.8851), and is a registered Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Lead Expert (NEMA 13039). His portfolio includes large-scale irrigation development, pumping and gravity systems, dams, diversion weirs, canal and drainage networks, solar-powered pumping, water-supply systems and climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure. His documented assignments include preliminary irrigation development for up to 20,000 hectares in Namibia, engineering planning and design for up to 35,000 hectares in the Manonga-Wembere Basin in Tanzania, and extensive irrigation rehabilitation and development schemes in Kenya. His experience combines hydrological analysis, hydraulic design, engineering economics, detailed drawings, cost estimates, tender documentation, construction supervision and project coordination. He has also contributed to technical training, mentoring of junior engineers, stakeholder engagement and development of Irrigation Water Users Associations. His professional interests include sustainable water infrastructure, climate-smart irrigation, water-use efficiency, renewable-energy-powered irrigation and strengthening agricultural water management across Africa.

Key Expertise

Major Projects and Contributions

• Project Engineer - Penelly Construction and Engineering (2026-Present)
  Project engineering and coordination of construction activities, preparation of proposals and investment plans in water infrastructure and energy, and detailed design of water and irrigation facilities including drawings, bills of quantities and tender documentation.
• Namibia - Large-Scale Irrigation Planning and Development (Up to 20,000 ha)
  Technical Advisor for irrigation planning and development, February-April 2026, through Penelly Construction and Engineering for the Namibian government. Conducted field investigations, preliminary feasibility assessments, pumping and gravity irrigation plans, and cost estimates. Developed preliminary designs for large-scale irrigation systems up to 20,000 ha, including diversion weirs, pumping stations, balancing dams, canals, pipelines, sedimentation basins and centre pivot irrigation systems.
• Mbeere Irrigation Clusters - Detailed Design of 1,050 ha, Kenya
  Design and Irrigation Engineer, September 2025-August 2026, Teef Engineers Ltd for the State Department of Irrigation. Prepared detailed irrigation designs for 1,050 ha, including 700 ha of drip and 350 ha of sprinkler irrigation, pumping facilities, solar PV systems up to 9,150 kW, extensive pipeline networks, balancing tanks, engineering cost estimates and tender documents. Coordinated multidisciplinary engineering deliverables and trained junior staff.
• Manonga-Wembere Basin - Irrigation Development of Up to 35,000 ha, Tanzania
  Civil and Irrigation Engineer, December 2023-March 2024, Royal Associates Consulting Engineers for the National Irrigation Commission of Tanzania. Undertook engineering design for up to 20 identified irrigation schemes, with development planning for up to 35,000 ha. Designed gravity-fed irrigation systems, dams, diversion weirs, sedimentation basins, lined canals, drainage and pipeline networks, and surface irrigation layouts.
• Upper Nzoia Cluster Irrigation Development - 9,500 ha, Kenya
  Irrigation and Design Engineer, 2014-2016, for the National Irrigation Authority. Prepared feasibility and detailed designs for irrigation development covering 9,500 ha. Designed sprinkler irrigation systems, diversion weirs, sedimentation basins and extensive pipeline networks for the Kuywa, Lunyu-Lukusi, Tongaren and Webuye clusters. Prepared engineering estimates, tender documentation and technical reports.
• Lower Nzoia Irrigation Development - 4,075 ha, Kenya
  Irrigation and Design Engineer for design review, detailed design and construction supervision in Siaya and Busia Counties. Prepared designs for basin and furrow irrigation, irrigation and drainage canals, canal control structures, and flood-related infrastructure. The documented scope included 393 km of irrigation canals, 433 km of drainage canals and more than 2,250 canal-related structures.
• Lower Kuja Irrigation Development - 3,900 ha, Kenya
  Irrigation Engineer, 2013-2016, participating in design review, tender documentation and construction supervision. Engineering works included approximately 101 km of branch and secondary irrigation canals, 239 km of drainage canals, 14 km of flood-protection dykes, 76 km of farm access roads, and design review of more than 1,250 canal-related structures.
• Mwea Irrigation Development Project - 2,000 ha, Kenya
  Design Engineer, October 2021-May 2023, Joycot General Contractors for the National Irrigation Authority. Reviewed canal designs, prepared construction drawings, method statements and material quantities, and supervised civil construction. Works included concrete-lined and earthen canals and more than 400 irrigation and drainage structures.
• Ahero and Kasiru-Kolal Irrigation Rehabilitation - 993 ha, Kenya
  Irrigation and Drainage Expert, May 2023-June 2024, Nippon Koei under a JICA preparatory survey. Planned rehabilitation of irrigation, drainage and flood-protection infrastructure in Kisumu County, including lined main and branch canals, tertiary canals and more than 300 canal structures. Prepared outline designs, rehabilitation drawings and field investigation coordination.
• Nginda Irrigation Development Project - 322 ha, Kenya
  Design and Irrigation Engineer and Hydrology Expert, October 2025-February 2026. Conducted hydrological investigations, irrigation design review, crop-water assessments and detailed designs for a 322 ha drip irrigation scheme. Prepared sedimentation basin design, approximately 50 km of pipelines, technical reports, bills of quantities and tender documents.
• Vihiga Irrigation Clusters - Banja and Hamuyundi, 64 ha, Kenya
  Design and Irrigation Engineer, March-July 2025. Prepared feasibility studies and irrigation development designs for 64 ha, including drip irrigation, diversion weirs, sedimentation basins, solar-powered pumping, storage tanks and approximately 22 km of pipeline networks. Undertook hydrological analysis, cost estimates and technical training.
• JICA Climate Adaptation and Water Management - Turkana and Kitui, Kenya
  Assistant Technical Expert in Water Management, June 2024-July 2025, Nippon Koei under the JICA-supported food and nutrition security project. Surveyed and evaluated existing boreholes and handpumps, prepared water-management and sanitation plans, designed and supervised up to ten elevated handpump installations, and supported Zai-Pit irrigation technology and farmer training.
• Anyiko-Ujwanga Expansion Irrigation - 600 ha, Kenya
  Design and Irrigation Engineer, June-October 2021, Batch Associates for the National Irrigation Authority. Prepared detailed gravity irrigation and drainage designs including a diversion weir, sedimentation basin, main and secondary canals, tertiary distribution canals, drainage works and more than 260 related canal structures.
• Emali Irrigation and Water Development - 40 ha, Kenya
  Irrigation Engineer, August-September 2024, for Emali Dedicated Children Agency. Designed a solar-powered pump-fed irrigation and water-development scheme incorporating a sand dam, storage sump, surface reservoir, pumping facilities, pipelines and 40 ha of Zai-Pit in-field irrigation.
• Nkutek-Elmugut Community Water and Sanitation Project, Kenya
  Water and Sanitation Engineer, August-October 2021, Batch Associates for the Water Sector Trust Fund in Samburu County. Designed water-supply infrastructure including a sand dam, infiltration gallery, solar pumping facilities, storage tanks, water kiosks, cattle troughs, sanitation facilities and approximately 45 km of water distribution pipelines.
• Kafubu Water Supply Design Review - Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti, Zambia
  Design Engineer, February-April 2016, Seureca East Africa Limited. Reviewed proposed urban water-supply infrastructure layouts and prepared detailed drawings and structural detailing for water-supply network components serving Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti.
• Lower Nzoia Irrigation - GIS Baseline Mapping and Survey
  GIS Expert, October 2017-March 2018, Esada Insight Limited. Prepared cadastral and spatial databases, digitized and georeferenced project data, conducted household and market-centre inventories, and supported mapping and quality assurance of baseline surveys for the Lower Nzoia irrigation development project.
• Environmental Impact Assessment - Irrigation and Small Earth Dams, Kenya
  Irrigation Engineer and EIA Expert, July-September 2020, Gedo Associates for the National Irrigation Authority. Conducted environmental reconnaissance, public participation, scoping and auditing for proposed irrigation projects and desilting of small earth dams in Western Kenya, including preparation of environmental impact assessment reports.