Irrigation PS Affirms Bold Plans to Expand Kenya’s Irrigation Frontier
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. It was the declaration of a public servant with a plan — a man leveraging ingenuity and partnerships to turn limitations into opportunities. Under his stewardship, the ministry is not waiting for ideal conditions but moving with strategic precision, prioritising projects that promise maximum impact on livelihoods and food security.
Putting Acres to Work, Building Resilience
The roadmap presented before the committee was not vague or abstract. It was detailed and measured, with clearly defined targets.
From expanding the Bura Irrigation Scheme by 18,500 acres, to injecting life into 9,000 acres of community irrigation projects to help farmers navigate the unpredictability of climate change, the department’s targets paint a picture of revitalised agricultural productivity.
Perhaps the most ambitious is the National Expanded Irrigation Programme, set to bring 44,497 acres of land under irrigation — a monumental undertaking that would further anchor Kenya’s food security.
And the effort doesn’t stop at farmland. In a progressive move, 70 public schools across the country will be equipped with boreholes, greenhouses, and irrigation kits, introducing children to sustainable agriculture and bolstering nutrition in learning institutions.
Reviving Giant Projects, Driving Future Prosperity
Kimotho’s appearance also brought renewed clarity on flagship projects long under the national spotlight.
From Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project to Mwache Multipurpose Dam, and the critical Siyoi-Muruny and Umaa Dams, the PS reassured legislators that strategic irrigation infrastructure was on track — despite budget tightening.
Notably, Mwea Irrigation Development Project will receive renewed focus, with an additional 5,000 acres being developed to ensure the entire 35,000 acres are put under rice cultivation. Meanwhile, Lower Kuja Scheme is gaining 2,840 new acres — both moves that speak directly to national priorities on staple food sufficiency.
Private Partnerships Take Root in Galana Kulalu
In a significant pivot that demonstrates Kimotho’s adaptive leadership, the ministry is accelerating Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Nowhere is this clearer than in Galana Kulalu, the once-troubled food security project now seeing new life.
Under Kimotho’s guidance, the State Department has developed essential water harvesting and storage infrastructure, unlocking private investment. A new investor has already embarked on a phased farming rollout covering 20,000 acres, under the PPP model — a landmark example of how collaboration can outpace constraints.
This alignment with County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) strategy further shows that irrigation isn’t being treated as an isolated effort but as a key cog in Kenya’s wider agricultural and industrial agenda.
Floods, Droughts, and Dykes: Balancing Risk and Opportunity
The ministry’s blueprint is also addressing threats that lurk alongside opportunity. In flood-prone areas, the construction of 16 kilometres of dykes and four check dams is underway, aiming to protect lives, livestock, and crops.
Moreover, the plan to increase national water storage capacity by 13.3 million cubic metres through new dams and water pans is critical, especially in the face of recurring drought cycles. These interventions will act as buffers, helping Kenyan communities absorb climate shocks with greater resilience.
A Steady Hand in Turbulent Times
In a political climate often marked by populist outbursts and bureaucratic blame games, PS Kimotho stands out. His style is pragmatic, his messaging devoid of theatrics. He doesn’t posture. He plans.
It’s easy to criticise during times of scarcity. But it takes foresight and discipline to carve out impact when resources shrink. Kimotho’s presentation reflected that quiet discipline. His stewardship, focused on prioritisation, innovation, and inter-agency synergy, is less about big talk and more about steady progress.
Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors
That timeless African proverb feels apt in describing Kimotho’s current moment. The sea has certainly been rough — with budget rationalisation biting into the ministry’s muscle — but he is steering the ship with a focus on destination, not distraction.
As Kenya inches toward Vision 2030 and wrestles with climate-induced uncertainties, food insecurity, and water stress, the silent yet strategic work happening under his leadership may well define a new irrigation era. Not just in pipelines and canals, but in renewed public confidence and national self-reliance.
To say the least, on Tuesday, PS Ephantus Kimotho didn’t just table a budget. He tabled a belief — that even with less, Kenya can do more.
Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee: 0708883777
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