KENYA MOJA

By Victor Oyuko At the heart of Kilifi and Tana River counties lies a stretch of land that has, for years, symbolised both great promise and deep national interest—the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Project. On Friday, that promise took a bold step forward when the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr. Felix Koskei, visited the project to assess progress and reaffirm the government’s commitment to sustainable food security through large-scale irrigation. He was hosted by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, who led a team of key officials and stakeholders in showcasing the strides made so far. The field visit marked a high-level endorsement of Galana Kulalu’s role as a national priority under Kenya’s agricultural transformation agenda. For PS Kimotho, it was more than a routine inspection. It was a strong sign that the work being done under the State Department for Irrigation is not only noticed but also supported at the very top of government. Galana Kulalu: A National ...

  By Victor Oyuko Oyuko During a site visit to Taita Taveta County, Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho led a high-level team to inspect two major irrigation projects that are expected to improve food production, create jobs, and strengthen rural livelihoods. His visit, supported by county leaders and national agencies, focused on assessing the rehabilitation of the Buruma Irrigation Scheme and the development of the Lower River Lumi and Murabani Irrigation Project. The inspection was part of the government’s wider effort to scale up irrigation infrastructure in key counties and ensure farming communities can access water all year round. PS Kimotho, speaking during the visit, reaffirmed the national government’s commitment under the leadership of the President to expand irrigated agriculture as a core strategy for economic transformation, food security, and household income growth. Buruma Irrigation Scheme: Restoring and Expanding One of the key stops during the ins...

  By Victor Patience Oyuko  In Baringo County, momentum is building around one of Kenya’s most transformative infrastructure projects—Radat Dam. A vision long spoken of is now taking structured form under the stewardship of Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho. On a significant day of public engagement, the people of Mogotio were invited to the decision-making arena, not as bystanders, but as critical participants in shaping a future defined by secure water access, expanded agriculture, and sustainable livelihoods. A New Chapter for Perkerra and Beyond The Radat Dam project, strategically positioned about 25 kilometers south of Marigat township, is poised to unlock agricultural and economic transformation across the region. The design of the dam seeks to tame and utilize the floodwaters of the local river, channelling its seasonal chaos into structured opportunity. At the center of its ambition lies the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, a decades-old lifeline that ha...

By Victor Patience Oyuko   Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho welcomed a high-level delegation from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to Maji House for a transformative engagement centered on strengthening Kenya’s irrigation and water resource management systems. The meeting, held today at Maji House, was marked by candid dialogue, data-driven reflection, and a shared sense of urgency to revamp the country’s irrigation landscape. PS Kimotho described the meeting as a powerful opportunity to align Kenya’s national irrigation goals with IWMI’s extensive global expertise. He reaffirmed that the State Department remains fully committed to the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), which outlines an ambitious but achievable target: expanding the area under irrigation to 1 million acres over the next decade. This vision, he said, is not only about acreage but about transforming the very architecture of how Kenya manages its precious water resou...

 By Victor Patience Oyuko  In the heart of Baringo County, an awakening is taking shape — one forged through water, public will, and visionary leadership. The Radat Dam project, situated approximately 25 kilometres south of Marigat township, is not just a construction site. It is a symbol of national intent and a bold stride towards sustainable development in Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions.  On Friday, 13th June 2025, a vital moment in this journey will unfold — a public participation forum focusing on ecosystem restoration and land compensation, led by Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo and supported by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho. This event is more than a community gathering. It is a demonstration of how public participation, grounded in transparency and dialogue, can become a cornerstone of infrastructural transformation. A Dam with Purpose and Power The Radat Dam, with a planned capacity of 124 million cubic meters, is no ordinary p...

  In the shifting landscape of Kenyan agriculture, a quiet revolution is unfolding — one driven not by chance, but by strategic intent, patriotic zeal, and international collaboration. The National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), under the guidance of the State Department for Irrigation, has taken a bold step forward in redefining Kenya’s irrigation future. In a significant engagement with Microbi Agrotech Africa Private Limited, a private sector leader with deep roots in sustainable agriculture, a new chapter has been opened — one rooted in promise, innovation, and a fierce commitment to the Kenyan farmer. At the centre of this emerging transformation is the conviction that Kenya’s food security is a matter of national pride and that its agricultural destiny can no longer be left to traditional methods alone. The path forward must be bold, regenerative, and collaborative — and that is exactly what the meeting between the State Department and Microbi Agrotech Africa Pr...

By Victor Patience Oyuko   In a world grappling with climate change, population growth, and volatile food prices, strategic international cooperation has become the cornerstone of sustainable development. For Kenya, one such promising alliance is with South Korea—a nation globally recognized for its technological advancement, agricultural efficiency, and commitment to innovation. As highlighted in a recent high-level engagement involving Kenya's Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, and South Korea's Ambassador to Kenya, His Excellency Kang Hyung-shik, the future of Kenya's food systems could be fundamentally reshaped through partnerships rooted in the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP). What Is NISIP and Why Does It Matter? The National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), officially launched on 21st March 2025, is Kenya's comprehensive blueprint for revitalizing the irrigation sector. It is not just a plan; it is a national statem...

By Victor Patience Oyuko  In a world grappling with climate change, population growth, and volatile food prices, strategic international cooperation has become the cornerstone of sustainable development. For Kenya, one such promising alliance is with South Korea—a nation globally recognized for its technological advancement, agricultural efficiency, and commitment to innovation. As highlighted in a recent high-level engagement involving Kenya's Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, and South Korea's Ambassador to Kenya, His Excellency Kang Hyung-shik, the future of Kenya's food systems could be fundamentally reshaped through partnerships rooted in the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP). What Is NISIP and Why Does It Matter? The National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), officially launched on 21st March 2025, is Kenya's comprehensive blueprint for revitalizing the irrigation sector. It is not just a plan; it is a national stateme...

By Victor Patience Oyuko  Why would Kenya and Ethiopia, two nations with diverse needs but shared challenges, rally under IGAD for a cross-border irrigation initiative? The answer lies in the strategic vision to transform the Daua River Basin into a springboard for food security, water control, and socio-economic integration. Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho took part in a critical bilateral meeting under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to breathe new life into these plans. This engagement marked a significant moment: the resumption of deliberations on the Daua River Basin Development Initiatives. As PS Kimotho emphasized during the forum, the focus was not only on local development but also on broader regional cohesion. The initiative represents a perfect convergence of Kenya and Ethiopia's shared interests with IGAD's mission of sustainable regional integration. Harnessing the Power of the Daua ...

By Victor Oyuko  In a powerful display of regional collaboration and forward-thinking leadership, the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia have taken a significant step toward reviving one of East Africa's most promising transboundary projects: the Daua River Basin Development Initiative. The meeting, organized under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), offered a crucial platform to reengage on long-standing aspirations for shared prosperity, resilience, and environmental stewardship. At the heart of this renewed push is the plan to construct a multipurpose dam on the Daua River. The project is ambitious, yet deeply necessary. Once completed, it will control the devastating seasonal floods that afflict communities, irrigate over 120,000 acres of arid land, generate hydroelectric power, and accelerate economic integration between Kenya and Ethiopia. Could this be the moment when Africa decisively turns the tide on its ...

By Victor Patience Oyuko Kenya is no longer tiptoeing around the issue of food insecurity—it is confronting it head-on. Under the Kenya Kwanza administration, a bold new chapter is unfolding in the country’s agricultural history, one driven by a clear resolve to transform irrigation from a supplementary intervention into a cornerstone of national development. On Tuesday, in a meeting that symbolized the synergy between communication and implementation arms of government, Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho hosted Government Spokesperson Hon. Isaac Mwaura. The agenda was clear and urgent: review the progress of irrigation programmes rolled out under the Kenya Kwanza administration and assess the road ahead. Irrigation Expansion: Kenya's Quiet Revolution One of the most striking outcomes of these recent interventions is the considerable expansion in irrigated acreage across the country. This is not a mere technical achievement—it’s a quiet revolution aimed at uplifting co...