PS Ephantus Kimotho Receives Global Honour from Malaysian Royal Family

 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 toward Africa, they often look for innovation in technology, natural resource management, and leadership that actually gets things done. In honoring PS Kimotho, LOANI has acknowledged that Kenya’s irrigation transformation—driven with method, structure, and care, is setting a new continental benchmark for what public service can achieve.

The ceremony, witnessed by dignitaries and development leaders, was not just a spotlight on the man but also on the mission. Kenya’s journey in building sustainable infrastructure, securing food systems, and developing grassroots resilience has found global resonance. This award confirms that the efforts being led by PS Kimotho are not only valid but visionary.

Leading with Vision, Serving with Purpose

Since his appointment in 2023, PS Kimotho has brought order, energy, and foresight to a relatively young department. At the time of his arrival, many leadership positions in the State Department for Irrigation were held in acting capacity, and the institution lacked a stable structure to deliver long-term impact. He quickly addressed that by finalizing an operational framework, confirming directors into substantive roles, and introducing career progression schemes that brought both clarity and motivation to public servants within the department.

The message was simple: get the basics right, and transformation will follow.

And follow it did.

Under his stewardship, irrigation coverage has expanded dramatically. From 664,000 acres in 2022 to 747,000 acres in 2024, the department is well on its way to achieving 1.7 million acres of irrigated land, as outlined in the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP 2025–2035). This is not just bureaucratic ambition. It is a real plan already in motion, designed to lift communities, stabilize food supply, and climate-proof the future of agriculture in Kenya.

Bringing the Margins to the Center

What makes PS Kimotho’s work stand out is the deep thread of inclusivity that runs through every project he champions. He understands that development isn’t meaningful unless it reaches the furthest corner of the map. Whether in Turkana, Garissa, Busia, or Siaya, the department’s work is anchored on the principle that no one should be left behind.

And that is precisely what this award reflects. It recognizes a form of leadership that puts people first. It celebrates the teams that toil in remote fields, the farmers who organize into cooperatives, the women and youth who are now leading local irrigation schemes, and the communities that are not just recipients of help but agents of transformation.

Under his leadership, over 40 irrigation projects have been completed, many of which were commissioned by the President himself. These projects have given more than 32,000 farmers consistent access to irrigation water, enabling them to farm year-round, increase their incomes, and reinvest in their families and communities.

Galana Kulalu: A Project Reborn

One of the hallmark projects under his watch is Galana Kulalu, a site long known for political stalemates and failed expectations. But under PS Kimotho’s guidance, the project has come alive. In its first phase, 20,000 acres are now under maize production, with an annual target of 1.4 million 90-kg bags of maize. The future scale of the project is staggering, with the development of Galana Dam expected to unlock 200,000 acres of land and produce over 14 million bags annually, while creating tens of thousands of jobs across the agricultural value chain.

This is not just about feeding a nation. It is about creating a future where food does not depend on unpredictable rains but on sustainable systems. It is about ensuring unga prices no longer rise and fall with weather patterns, but stay stable because of sound, data-driven planning.

Financial Growth Reflects Institutional Confidence

Leadership is not just measured in vision but in results. Since PS Kimotho took office, the department’s budget has more than doubled, from KES 10.34 billion in FY 2022/2023 to KES 21.128 billion in FY 2025/2026. This leap speaks volumes. It reflects the government’s growing confidence in the department’s ability to deliver on its mandate, to use resources wisely, and to impact lives meaningfully.

Beyond the numbers, the increased funding has translated to real outcomes: rehabilitated land, improved water storage (which rose by 28.5% between 2022 and 2024), and the development of public-private partnerships (PPPs) targeting over 320,000 acres for food production.

Restoring Dignity in Deprived Areas

Among the projects that have had the most profound social impact is the conversion of the Bura Irrigation Scheme to a gravity-fed system. This shift has reduced operational costs for farmers by KES 120 million annually, making irrigation affordable and sustainable. In another milestone, the Lower Nzoia Gravity Scheme, once riddled with delays, now supports 10,000 acres of irrigation and benefits over 12,600 farmers in Busia and Siaya counties.

These projects do more than irrigate land. They restore dignity to communities that have long been overlooked. They empower households to grow their own food, sell their produce, and raise the next generation on their own terms.

A Leader Rooted in Discipline and Experience

PS Kimotho is no stranger to national service. Before taking up his current role, he served as Principal Secretary for Forestry, where he launched Kenya’s 15 Billion Trees Growing Strategy, restored degraded land, and positioned the country as a leading voice in forest-based climate action. A Certified Public Accountant (Kenya), he has also led in the private sector as Group CEO of LEO Capital Holdings and CEO of Heri Homes, championing affordable housing solutions for the urban middle class.

This diverse experience in finance, sustainability, and public sector reform has given him the toolkit to not just manage change, but to lead it.

A Shared Honor for a Shared Mission

In receiving this global award, PS Kimotho was quick to point out that the honor belongs to many. The men and women who show up early in the morning to dig trenches, operate machines, engage farmers, write reports, monitor results, and implement policy. The team behind the vision.

It is to these everyday heroes that he dedicated the award. To the workers in the field. To the communities choosing to believe in change. To the dreamers building Kenya one acre at a time.

An Award that Strengthens the National Journey

Awards are not the goal. They are a moment to pause, reflect, and reaffirm a commitment to keep moving forward. The recognition from His Highness Tengku Hishammuddin Zaizi and LOANI is a reminder to all of us that excellence in public service still matters. That collaboration can deliver results. That visionary leadership grounded in action will always rise to the top.

Kenya’s irrigation story is far from over. There is more land to transform, more communities to serve, and more food to grow. But in PS Kimotho, the country has found not just a leader for the moment, but a steward for the mission.

As the world continues to take notice, Kenyans can stand tall, knowing that their own are being recognized globally for doing the hard work, for building systems that last, and for leading with both heart and discipline.

Congratulations to PS Ephantus Kimotho. This award belongs not just to one man but to a nation committed to inclusive growth, resilient futures, and the unshakeable belief that no one should be left behind.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy coffee; 0708883777