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PS Kimotho Deepens Climate-Smart Partnerships With Global Green Growth Institute

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The Government has continued to position irrigation at the centre of Kenya’s climate response and food security strategy, with the State Department for Irrigation steadily opening new pathways for sustainable investment, innovation, and collaboration. This direction was clearly reflected when Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho hosted a delegation from the Global Green Growth Institute at Maji House in Nairobi, an engagement that went beyond courtesy and into the substance of how Kenya can future-proof its irrigation sector. The meeting brought together policy leadership and global expertise at a time when irrigation is no longer viewed simply as a means of boosting crop yields, but as a critical tool for climate adaptation , rural transformation, and inclusive economic growth. For PS Kimotho, the engagement aligned squarely with the department’s broader push to translate national plans into practical, bankable, and climate-resilient solutions for farmers across the c...
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Kenya starts new Irrigation phase as PS Kimotho Steers Mega Dams

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  Kenya is entering a defining phase in its irrigation and water security journey as the State Department for Irrigation prepares to roll out one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in its history.  In 2026, six mega dams are scheduled for construction across different regions of the country, signalling a decisive shift towards large-scale, planned irrigation as a pillar of national development. Anchored within the Government’s broader food security and climate resilience agenda, the programme reflects a growing recognition that water infrastructure is not merely a technical investment, but a strategic economic and social imperative. At the centre of this transition is the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, whose stewardship has increasingly emphasised scale, coordination, and long-term impact. The planned dams—Lowaat in Turkana, Radat in Baringo, Thuci in Embu, Basingila in Isiolo, High Falls serving Kitui and Tharaka Nithi, and the Galana ...
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Kenya Shifts to Data-Driven Water Governance with WAD Tool Integration

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Kenya ’s irrigation and water governance architecture is undergoing a decisive transformation as the State Department for Irrigation accelerates the shift towards data-driven , digitally enabled decision-making.  This transition was underscored by the formal handover of the Water Availability and Demand (WAD) Tool from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), an institutional milestone that signals a new phase in how water resources are planned, allocated, and managed for national development. Presiding over the engagement, the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho , reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to embedding credible, science-based data at the centre of irrigation planning and investment decisions.  The adoption of the WAD Tool represents a move away from fragmented assessments and pilot-driven interventions, towards an integrated system capable of supporting large-scale, climate-resilien...
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PS Kimotho Chairs High-Level Engagement to Unlock Athi/Galana Dam

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Kenya’s bold transition from rain-fed agriculture to reliable, large-scale irrigated farming took a significant step forward today as the Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho , chaired a high-level stakeholders’ engagement meeting on the construction of the Athi/Galana Dam . The project is a flagship initiative under the Presidential Declaration to construct fifty (50) mega dams across the country , a transformative agenda aimed at expanding irrigation infrastructure, enhancing national food security, and strengthening climate resilience. The Athi/Galana Dam is strategically positioned as one of the most consequential water infrastructure investments in Kenya’s history. Designed to support large-scale agricultural production and integrated water use, the dam will play a central role in unlocking the full potential of the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project , one of the country’s most ambitious agricultural undertakings. A KSh 40 Billion Mileston...
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PS Kimotho Leads Accountability Push during Irrigation Performance Review

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The Government has continued to place irrigation at the centre of Kenya’s food security and climate resilience agenda , with renewed focus on performance, accountability and service delivery. This commitment was evident when the Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho , led his management team in a comprehensive review of the Department’s performance for the first half of the 2025/26 Financial Year, which concluded in December 2025. The review, held on Tuesday, 20th January, 2026, provided an opportunity to take stock of progress made, reflect on lessons learned and set clear priorities for the remainder of the financial year. This first Heads of Department meeting of the year was more than a routine administrative exercise. It was a strategic moment to reaffirm the Department’s mandate to deliver reliable irrigation services to Kenyans while strengthening internal systems that support efficiency, transparency and impact. Under the leadership of I...
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PS Kimotho Backs Youth Enterprise as Kenya Rolls Out Nyota Funds

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The Government has continued to deepen its commitment to inclusive economic growth by placing young people at the centre of national development initiatives. This was evident at Kasarani in Nairobi , where Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho joined His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto and Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki during the Nyota Start-Up Capital Disbursement Programme for beneficiaries from Nairobi, Kajiado and Kiambu counties. The event brought together senior government leaders, county representatives and thousands of young entrepreneurs whose ambitions reflect a new phase of grassroots enterprise development. While the Nyota Programme is broad in scope, its objectives speak directly to the future of productive sectors such as agriculture and irrigation, where youth participation remains essential for sustainability, innovation and growth. For the State Department for Irrigation , youth enterprise development is not a parallel agenda but a...
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Coordinating Water and Irrigation for National Transformation

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  The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to water security , food security and sustainable development through a high-level consultative meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa , at Maji House in Nairobi. The meeting brought together senior leadership from across the water and irrigation sectors, including the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho , the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Water and Sanitation, Mr. Julius Korir, and Chief Executive Officers from all water and irrigation agencies. At its core, the engagement was about alignment. It reflected a shared recognition that Kenya’s water, sanitation and irrigation challenges are interconnected and that meaningful progress depends on coordinated delivery across institutions, levels of government and sectors. For the State Department for Irrigation, the meeting provided an important platform to situate ir...
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