KENYA MOJA

By Victor Patience Oyuko  In Kabete constituency, a new chapter in Kenya’s sustainable agriculture journey is unfolding. The Muguga Primary School Micro Irrigation Project, launched today with a firm handshake between national and local leaders, is more than just a water project—it is a powerful symbol of hope, innovation, and long-term food security. The project, which is being rolled out under the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), marks a major shift in how Kenya envisions the role of public institutions, particularly schools, in building resilience against climate change and food insecurity. By focusing on micro-irrigation and greenhouse farming at the school level, the initiative aims to cultivate not just food, but knowledge, responsibility, and environmental stewardship among schoolchildren. Present at the launch was the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, who reiterated the government’s commitment to engaging the ne...

 By Victor Patience Oyuko  Northern Kenya, a region frequently scarred by droughts and food insecurity, is finally on the cusp of long-term transformation through the Drought Resilience Programme for Northern Kenya (DRPNK).  This ambitious initiative, which was officially launched in November 2024, is a flagship investment in climate resilience and agricultural development. At its core, the programme seeks to cushion farmers in Marsabit and Turkana counties—two of the most climate-vulnerable areas in the country—against the devastating impacts of prolonged dry spells. DRPNK is intricately aligned with the revitalized arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) pathway of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP). Through this alignment, the programme positions itself as a critical instrument in not only expanding irrigation access in the ASALs but also ensuring that smallholder farmers are equipped to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. The revitalized ASALs pathway is...

By Victor Patience Oyuko  On Tuesday, a quiet but potentially game-changing chapter began to unfold in the arid heartlands of northern Kenya. Deep within the sun-beaten valleys of Turkana and West Pokot Counties, a powerful current of ambition flowed—not from the Turkwell Dam alone, but from a room filled with decision-makers, visionaries, and leaders driven by a singular mission: to feed a nation and empower its people. Presiding over the meeting was the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa. Among the high-profile attendees were Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin, Principal Secretary for ASALs and Regional Development Mr. Kello Harsama, National Irrigation Authority CEO Eng. Charles Muasya, and Kenya Valley Development Authority MD Mr. Sammy Naporos. But amid the flurry of policy minds and regional heavyweights, one man’s strategic clarity stood out—Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho. From Potent...

By Victor Patience Oyuko   On Friday , Galana Kulalu stood not just as a piece of land but as a symbol — a sleeping giant now stirring to life, awakened by water and willpower. President William Ruto toured the expansive Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project in Kilifi and Tana River counties, where he announced the completion of key infrastructure — a long-awaited milestone in Kenya’s push for food security. But behind the President’s calm optimism stood the ever-steady Irrigation Principal Secretary, Ephantus Kimotho, whose quiet yet pivotal leadership has been instrumental in moving Galana-Kulalu from concept to near-reality. A Reservoir of Promise The President inspected newly completed works that form the backbone of the revived project: a 753-metre inlet canal, a 450-million-litre reservoir, a 1,210-metre outlet canal, and a 20-million-litre off-take water supply source — a Sh519.4 million infrastructure upgrade now undergoing final testing. In a land once synonymous with stalle...

By Victor Patience Oyuko  13th May, 2025 ON Tuesday, Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, chaired by Hon. Kangongo Bowen, carrying more than just figures and forecasts — he carried resolve. Facing a sharp 33% reduction in development budget allocations for the Financial Year 2025/26, Kimotho cut a calm and collected figure. Where others might have lamented or deflected, he laid out a forward-looking vision that, even amid fiscal constraints, remains firmly tethered to President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Leading with Strategy, Not Sentiment The State Department for Irrigation has seen its GoK-funded budget drop from the previous year by Ksh 2.821 billion. Yet, Kimotho was unequivocal: “We are committed to the implementation of various ongoing irrigation projects,” he said, his voice steady, his posture confident. This wasn’t the lament of a frustrated technocrat....