PS Kimotho to Lead Public Dialogue on Radat Dam Land Compensation and Ecosystem Restoration

 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 project. Designed to harness and regulate the floodwaters of the Perkerra River, it seeks to shift the region from water scarcity to water security. Once complete, the dam will stabilize the flow to the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, allowing its coverage to leap from current levels to nearly 12,000 acres. That’s not just irrigation — it’s empowerment.

More than just numbers, the dam represents life. It promises clean water for over 102,000 people and aims to irrigate fertile land that will directly support thousands of farming families. It even integrates green energy into its blueprint, with a capacity to generate one megawatt (1MW) of captive power. In a world confronting climate change and energy deficits, this kind of integrated approach is not only smart — it’s necessary.

For the people of Baringo, this is a turning point.

A Dialogue Rooted in Dignity

But infrastructure must never come at the cost of dignity. That’s why the upcoming public participation forum on land compensation is so critical. It acknowledges that while the future is promising, the present must be just.

Led by Treasury PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo, and assisted by the ever-focused Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho, the meeting is expected to anchor its conversations around inclusivity, clarity, and fairness. This is not just about figures or plots of land; it’s about ensuring the people who make way for national progress are neither forgotten nor shortchanged.

PS Kimotho’s presence is particularly significant. As the steward of irrigation infrastructure, he has consistently championed people-first approaches. His leadership in similar projects has demonstrated the value of balancing national interests with local realities — a trait that continues to earn him the trust of many stakeholders.

Ecosystem Restoration: Healing What Sustains Us

At the heart of the Radat Dam initiative is another vital promise — ecosystem restoration. This is not merely a dam to store water. It is a dam designed to work in harmony with the environment, to bring degraded landscapes back to life.

The Perkerra River and its surrounding basin have long been vulnerable to erratic rains, siltation, and land degradation. The construction of the Radat Dam comes with an opportunity to reverse this damage. Through reforestation, riverbank protection, and sustainable land use planning, the project will help rebuild the fragile ecosystem that so many in the region depend on.

This approach reflects a deep respect for nature and a conscious departure from the past, where development too often ignored environmental cost. It is a recognition that Kenya’s future — especially in water-stressed counties — depends on how well we care for the ecosystems that cradle our rivers, our farms, and our homes.

Public Participation as a Pillar of Progress

Friday’s forum will mark an important chapter in how Kenya conducts development — not from boardrooms alone, but through direct engagement with those most affected. Public participation in this context is not a formality. It is a declaration that communities are partners, not bystanders, in the transformation of their lands and livelihoods.

Those gathered at the Radat Dam site will have the opportunity to voice their concerns, understand their compensation rights, and engage directly with government officials. This transparent and participatory model sets a precedent for future infrastructural rollouts. It reinforces trust and builds the kind of public ownership that is essential for long-term success.

PS Ephantus Kimotho has been a vocal advocate for such engagement. His previous work in ensuring community consultation before irrigation rollouts has become a model in public sector circles. He understands that irrigation is not about pipes and pumps alone — it’s about people.

Economic Ripples Across the Region

Once operational, Radat Dam is expected to unleash a ripple of economic benefits that stretch far beyond agriculture. The additional acreage under irrigation will generate new opportunities for agribusiness, market expansion, and employment. Local youth, often trapped in cycles of underemployment, will have access to productive livelihoods. Women, traditionally sidelined in large-scale projects, will find avenues to participate in value chains and cooperative farming.

Furthermore, the 1MW of electricity to be generated by the dam opens up new possibilities for local processing, refrigeration, and digital connectivity. These ripple effects are not accidental. They are part of a well-thought-out strategy that views water infrastructure as a catalyst for holistic development.

A Future to Believe In

As Kenya looks ahead, the Radat Dam serves as a beacon of what can be achieved when vision, leadership, and community are aligned. It is a project that doesn’t just aim to build a dam — it aims to build trust, restore nature, and ignite prosperity.

PS Kimotho, in collaboration with Treasury PS Dr. Kiptoo, is shepherding a vision where national development is both ambitious and accountable. Their presence at the public participation forum sends a strong signal: that the government is not only building infrastructure, but building it with the people.

As the forum convenes this Friday, what is being discussed is more than compensation. It is about fairness. It is about shared hope. It is about a Kenya that listens, restores, and rises — one dam, one community, and one acre at a time.

The water may not have yet filled the reservoir, but the tide of transformation is already here.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee: 0708883777