PS Ephantus Kimotho, Recognized as Distinguished Leader at Continental Awards

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 Department for Irrigation through a remarkable transformation. When he arrived, the department was still taking shape, with many leadership roles held in acting capacity. Rather than stall or defer, he moved quickly to establish an institutional foundation. He finalized a robust organizational structure, secured the confirmation of key directors, and implemented career frameworks that have restored morale and purpose across the board.

This institutional clarity was not just administrative. It was about building a system that works. A system that serves. A system that lasts.

From Policy to Progress: Turning Ideas into Impact

Under his watch, irrigation in Kenya has evolved from a seasonal government agenda into a year-round national development strategy. With steady hands and a visionary eye, PS Kimotho has overseen a dramatic rise in irrigated acreage—from 664,000 acres to 747,000 acres—with a bold target to reach 1.7 million acres through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP 2025–2035).

These numbers tell a deeper story. They speak of farmers now able to withstand the shocks of climate change. They speak of households growing their own food, earning better incomes, and sending children to school. They speak of dignity restored.

His leadership has also catalyzed major national projects. Galana Kulalu, once a subject of political back-and-forth, has been brought to life under Phase 1 with 20,000 acres of maize under production. With an expected annual yield of 1.4 million 90-kg bags, this project is already contributing to stabilizing unga prices for ordinary Kenyan families. The ongoing development of the Galana Dam is projected to support 200,000 acres, potentially producing 14 million bags annually and creating thousands of jobs.

Lifting the Sector, Empowering the Nation

Perhaps what makes PS Kimotho’s leadership so distinct is that it does not stop at launching projects. It sees them through. From the conversion of the Bura Irrigation Scheme into a gravity-based system—saving farmers KES 120 million annually—to resolving long-standing delays in the Lower Nzoia Gravity Scheme now benefiting over 12,600 farmers, the focus remains on real outcomes for real people.

He has overseen over 40 completed irrigation projects, many commissioned by the President himself. These projects have directly connected 32,000 farmers to reliable water sources. And these farmers are not just surviving. They are thriving. Organized into cooperatives, trained, connected to markets, they are now earning average gross margins of KES 240,000, a leap forward in rural economic empowerment.

The numbers keep rising. Water harvesting capacity has grown by 28.5%, national rice production is up by over 50%, and over 320,000 acres are now targeted through public-private partnerships for food production. Even the long-stalled Mwache Multipurpose Dam has been jolted back to life, leaping from 4% to 44% completion in just one year.

This is not reform for its own sake. It is reform for the sake of Kenya.

Building Systems That Outlast the Individual

One of PS Kimotho’s crowning achievements is the development and launch of Kenya’s first-ever National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (2025–2035). This long-term framework brings together national and county governments, development partners, the private sector, and farmers under one unified vision. It aligns investments, policies, and projects toward a shared national goal: expanding irrigation by 1 million acres and anchoring food and water security in a sustainable model.

It is exactly the kind of strategic, systems-level thinking that Africa so desperately needs. And it is what makes this Distinguished Leader Award more than ceremonial. It is a seal on a record of real, measurable transformation.

From Finance to Forestry to Irrigation—A Proven Track Record

Before taking up the irrigation docket, PS Kimotho served as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Forestry, where he launched Kenya’s 15 Billion Trees Growing Strategy and played a key role in positioning the country in the global carbon markets. With a background as a Certified Public Accountant, and past leadership in the private sector, including stints as Group CEO of LEO Capital Holdings and CEO of Heri Homes, he brings a rare blend of financial rigour, corporate discipline, and developmental passion.

His versatility as a leader is not only admirable but necessary in an era where public service demands both vision and velocity.

A Moment of Recognition, A Call to Action

The All Means All World Awards – Africa Edition is not just about celebrating titles. It is about celebrating substance. It is about honoring those who lead not just from position, but with purpose.

In recognizing PS Ephantus Kimotho, Africa is recognizing that public service, when done right, can be transformative. That leadership grounded in integrity, strategy, and impact can uplift entire generations.

Kenya is proud. The continent is watching. And the future is in steady hands.

Congratulations, PS Ephantus Kimotho, on this well-deserved honour. Your work is not just building irrigation systems—it is building a stronger, more self-reliant, and more hopeful Kenya.