Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho at the Heart of Galana-Kulalu Breakthrough

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 stalled promises, these physical structures speak volumes — not just of engineering, but of institutional intent. This is no longer a pilot with patchy progress. It is a living system. And it is in this transformation that the hand of PS Kimotho can be felt, firm yet discreet.

The infrastructure project — valued at Kes 519.4 million and implemented by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) — includes intake works with five low-lift pumps, a 450,000 cubic metre reservoir, inlet and outlet canals, and a 20,000 cubic metre sump to support water distribution. Final testing is underway. Delays in power installation and Galana Bridge construction had briefly slowed progress, but under the strategic coordination of the PS, these challenges are now being addressed decisively.

Bridging the Gap — Literally and Figuratively

Accompanying the President on the tour, Kimotho inspected the newly constructed Galana-Kulalu Bridge and access road — infrastructure designed to connect not just places, but possibilities. The bridge will ease the movement of produce from the expansive fields to local and national markets, a move that reflects the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda’s promise to link the farmer to the fortune.

This is the kind of “invisible architecture” that PS Kimotho excels in — structures that do not shout, but shift lives.

Powering Change with Purpose

Also under inspection was the project’s electricity supply system, a crucial component that will eliminate the reliance on diesel generators and significantly cut the cost of production. Again, it’s not just a matter of switching energy sources. It is a deliberate policy pivot, one that Kimotho has long championed: reduce operational costs, increase productivity, and make food security commercially viable.

With oversight from the State Department and active engagement from PS Kimotho, critical support infrastructure such as power connectivity and bridge access are being fast-tracked in coordination with REREC and KeRRA, to ensure that the cost of farming remains affordable and the movement of produce efficient.

In a region where every drop of water and every kilowatt of energy counts, this switch speaks to a deeper logic — sustainability over subsidy, resilience over reliance.

The Long Walk to Redemption

Galana-Kulalu has a past. It has been, for years, the poster child of stalled mega projects — promised, politicised, and postponed. But like the biblical dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision, the land is beginning to rise with muscle, water, and hope.

The President's declaration — that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will now scale up food production — might have grabbed headlines. But those familiar with the backroom grit know that PS Kimotho has spent the last year laying the legal, logistical, and land-use groundwork to attract investors and de-risk the project.

It is under PS Kimotho’s stewardship that a Public-Private Partnership with Selu Ltd was structured and signed on 10th December 2024, following the President’s directive in January 2023. With an ambitious capital injection of Kes 12.6 billion, production on a 10,000-acre model farm commenced in April 2025, with plans to expand to 20,000 acres over three carefully phased milestones. The financial close is expected by December 2025, and the Project Management Unit (PMU) — comprising NIA, SDI, ADC, Selu Ltd, and NT — is already operational and resolving project teething challenges.

The Quiet Hand Behind a National Dream

As the President addressed local leaders and project stakeholders, his message was simple but powerful: Kenya must feed itself. What he didn’t need to say — but what observers noted — was the presence of PS Kimotho, standing close, taking mental notes, letting the evidence of his work speak for itself.

A famous African proverb reminds us, “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” In Galana-Kulalu, the roots of reform have grown — not by spectacle, but through structure. Through PS Kimotho’s tenure, irrigation in Kenya is no longer about maps and meetings. It is about milestones and measurable impact.

From Dust to Destiny

Galana-Kulalu is not merely a reclamation of dry land — it is a reassertion of national vision. It is where irrigation ceases to be a technical term and becomes a lifeline, a force multiplier for agriculture, employment, and food security.

Yes, President Ruto set the tone. But PS Ephantus Kimotho is setting the tempo. And if this renewed momentum holds, Galana-Kulalu will no longer be a question mark in Kenya’s food story. 

While housing shortages and access road limitations remain, solutions are in motion — from asset transfer evaluations of key farming machinery and irrigation pivots to infrastructure acceleration. As Selu Ltd gears up for full-scale operations, the foundational work laid by PS Kimotho’s team is turning policy into produce and paperwork into action.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee: 0708883777