KENYA MOJA

By Victor Oyuko   In Tana River County, something powerful is happening. It's the kind of project that gives real hope to ordinary Kenyans. It's bold. It's practical. And it speaks directly to the kind of future we all want, one where our farmers thrive, our youth have jobs, and our country feeds itself. On Wednesday, Irrigation Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho, alongside Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Muuga and National Irrigation Authority CEO Eng. Charles Muasya, visited the Tana River Sugar Company’s Field Demonstration Farm inside the Bura Irrigation Scheme. What they saw wasn’t just another farming venture. It was a symbol of Kenya’s rising potential in the fight for food security and economic freedom. This is how nations are built, by bold action on the ground, not empty words on paper. A Bold New Chapter for Sugarcane Farming At the centre of this transformative visit is a forward-looking private sector initiative. The Tana River Sug...

By Victor Oyuko  In a forward-looking meeting held at Maji House, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, hosted Mr. Mohammed Awer, CEO of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya, for high-level talks focused on collaboration in land and water resource management across Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The meeting was not just a formality. It marked a significant step toward strengthening ties between the government and the conservation sector, with the shared goal of advancing irrigation development, climate adaptation, and sustainable land use. The discussions laid the foundation for a transformative partnership that aims to support both ecological recovery and food security in regions most vulnerable to climate change. A Strategic Dialogue with Transformative Goals The conversation between PS Kimotho and Mr. Awer centered on priority areas where the State Department for Irrigation and WWF Kenya can align their strengths. One key...

  By Victor Oyuko  On  Saturday evening that now carries a permanent mark in Kenya’s public service history, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, was conferred with a distinguished international award by His Highness Prince Y.M. Tengku Hishammuddin Zaizi of the esteemed Malaysian royal family. The award, presented under the banner of Leaders of All Nations International (LOANI), signals a powerful endorsement of Kenya’s efforts to drive sustainable development, improve food security, and uplift grassroots communities through strategic irrigation initiatives. For PS Kimotho, this was more than a personal moment. It was a national statement. It was about Kenya stepping forward, being seen, and being recognized, not for empty rhetoric or ceremonial reform, but for the steady, meaningful progress being made in transforming lives through water, land, and leadership. International Recognition, Local Roots When global eyes turn towar...

By Victor Oyuko  In the ever-evolving journey of Kenya’s agricultural transformation, one quiet but profound moment took place behind the doors of the State Department for Irrigation. Tuesday was a regular weekday, but for Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho, it was another opportunity to lay another brick in the wall of national progress. On this day, he welcomed Ms. Nermine Khouzam Rubin, a visionary founder and CEO of the Water 4 Mercy Foundation. The meeting may not have made headlines at first glance, but within those conversations lay the blueprint of a future where every smallholder farmer in Kenya could dream bigger, produce better, and live with dignity. A Meeting of Vision and Purpose The courtesy call was more than a formality. It was a convergence of two people driven by a deep sense of purpose. On one side sat PS Kimotho, an experienced public servant with a firm grasp of Kenya’s developmental roadmap. On the other sat Ms. Rubin, an international changemaker whose...

By Victor Oyuko  Kenya is once again on the continental map for all the right reasons. Principal Secretary for the State Department of Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, CBS, has been honored with the Distinguished Leader Award at the All Means All World Awards – Africa Edition. This prestigious recognition celebrates not only his exceptional service but also Kenya’s rising promise in sustainable development, public sector reform, and agricultural resilience. As the continent gathers on 26th July at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, to celebrate impact and progress, PS Kimotho will be standing as a symbol of what effective, visionary, and principled leadership looks like. His story is one of commitment, action, and deep belief in the power of public service to change lives. He is not just a recipient of an award; he is the embodiment of what that award represents. Steering a Young Department into a National Force Since assuming office in 2023, PS Kimotho has led the State Departmen...

By Victor Oyuko   The growing partnership between Kenya and Japan took a major step forward with a high-profile visit to the Ahero Irrigation Scheme. On the afternoon of July 6, 2025, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, toured the Ahero fields and held discussions on Kenya’s irrigation future. Hosted by Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho,  his visit was more than symbolic. It marked a pivotal milestone in the deepening collaboration between JICA and Kenya’s State Department for Irrigation, aimed at transforming rice production, water use efficiency, and farmer livelihoods across the country. The presence of such a senior figure from JICA at Ahero was not just about inspecting fields—it was a strong statement of confidence in Kenya’s irrigation development trajectory. It underlined the seriousness with which development partners view the Western Irrigation Schemes, especially Ahero and West Kano in Kisumu County. ...

By Victor Patience Oyuko   MWEA Irrigation Scheme is no longer just a name on a map. It is a place that has become the loudest proof yet that Kenya can grow enough to feed herself. Anchored by the powerful presence of Thiba Dam, Mwea has transformed from a seasonal rice basket into a national powerhouse for food production. This transformation is no accident. It is a result of calculated planning, precise engineering, and above all, relentless commitment from the State Department for Irrigation. Over the past year, this scheme has shifted gears. The Thiba Dam, completed in April 2022, has been fully operational since 2023. It is the largest single infrastructure investment ever undertaken in the history of Mwea Irrigation Scheme. From the moment water was released downstream, what had always felt like a promising future suddenly became the new reality for over 30,000 acres of farmland. This dam was designed not only to hold water, but to build a nation. And it’s doing exactly that...