KENYA MOJA

By Victor Oyuko  The crisp Saturday morning air in Ottawa carried with it a sense of unity and cultural pride as dignitaries, members of the diaspora, and friends of Africa gathered for the vibrant Swahili Day Ottawa 2025. The event, hosted by H.E. Amb. Joseph E. Sokoine, the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to Canada, became a living testimony of Africa’s linguistic heritage and its power to connect communities across borders. Among the notable leaders present was Kenya’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Carolyne Kamende Daudi, whose participation lent depth and spirit to the occasion. Swahili Day Ottawa 2025 was not merely a commemoration of language. It was a celebration of identity, belonging, and the resilient bonds that unite Africans, no matter how far they are from home. Through music, food, art, and conversation, the event underscored that Swahili is more than words, it is a vessel of heritage and integration. A Celebration Beyond Borders Ottawa,...

Two years ago, Kenya embarked on a journey to strengthen irrigation and place agriculture at the center of national development. The State Department for Irrigation, working with the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and other partners, was tasked with delivering large-scale, sustainable water projects to secure food production, protect farmers, and transform livelihoods. Today, the results are visible across counties, showcasing milestones that blend ambition with tangible progress. Expanding Irrigated Acreage One of the biggest milestones has been the steady expansion of land under irrigation. In the past two years, more than 20,000 acres of new land have been brought into full production across national schemes such as Bura, Hola, Ahero, and Mwea. This expansion adds to over 350,000 acres already under irrigation nationwide, strengthening the country’s capacity to meet its food needs. The Bura and Hola schemes in Tana River alone now contribute more than 12,000 acres of maize and ...

TUESDAY - Nairobi  Kenya has taken a major step toward strengthening its irrigation infrastructure through a new partnership between the State Department of Irrigation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). On Tuesday, the government confirmed the signing of the Preparatory Survey Report for the rehabilitation of the Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kisumu County. This development marks the beginning of a transformative project that will address water efficiency, improve farm productivity, and protect livelihoods in the Nyando Basin. The Ahero Irrigation Scheme, one of Kenya’s most critical agricultural hubs, has faced challenges over the years due to ageing infrastructure, unreliable water flow, and recurring floods. The signing of the survey report sets out the project’s detailed scope and defines the responsibilities of both the Government of Kenya and JICA. Supported through a generous grant, the rehabilitation will ensure that farmers within the scheme benefit from m...

By Victor Oyuko  Every great institution is judged not only by the services it delivers, but also by the values it upholds. Across Kenya’s public service, one of the recurring challenges has been maintaining a balance between authority, responsibility, and accountability. While many reforms have been rolled out over the years, the need for clear sensitization of staff on lawful consequences of misconduct has often been overlooked. Yet, without such awareness, even the best policies risk being undermined by infractions that erode public trust. It is against this backdrop that the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has taken a bold step towards institutional transformation. On Thursday, under the leadership of CEO Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS, and the senior management team, NIA conducted a comprehensive sensitization exercise for all its staff. The initiative, aligned with the Public Service Commission guidelines, is more than a procedural exercise; it is a deliberate effort to entrenc...

By Victor Oyuko  On Thursday, the quiet settlement of Bura in Tana River County came alive with hope, dialogue, and a renewed sense of belonging. Farmers, leaders, and government officials gathered in one accord for a public participation forum led by Irrigation Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho, in line with the Presidential Directive on sustainable public irrigation schemes. The agenda was simple but transformative: to engage farmers directly on issues of land allocation and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) fees at the Bura Irrigation and Settlement Scheme. But beyond the technicalities, the event was a powerful demonstration of what happens when government meets its people halfway, through transparency, inclusivity, and genuine dialogue. A Presidential Directive That Puts Farmers First When H.E President Dr. William Ruto directed that all irrigation schemes must embrace public participation, it was more than a policy statement. It was a turning point for communities th...

By Victor Patience Oyuko  On Wednesday, 20 August 2025, the story of Kenya’s irrigation journey gained a new chapter in Tana River County. The Hola Irrigation Scheme, a project that has fed communities and anchored livelihoods for decades, is now poised for a renaissance. The Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, together with Eng. Gilbert Maluki, Chairman of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), and Eng. Charles Muasya, CEO of NIA, walked the fields and canals of Hola. The purpose was not ceremonial, it was about charting the next phase of a bold plan that could position Hola as Kenya’s national rice hub. Immediate Priorities: Expanding and Rehabilitating Land For farmers in Hola, land has never been the problem. The challenge has always been water management and infrastructure. On Wednesday, PS Kimotho made clear that change was already underway. The priorities were ambitious but achievable: expand 3,000 acres of irrigated land, rehabilitate 4,500 acres, de...

By Victor Oyuko  On Monday morning, the corridors of Irrigation House were alive with the weight of possibility. The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) hosted a high-level meeting that could change the face of food security in Kenya. The Principal Secretary for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, walked into the headquarters accompanied by senior officials from his State Department. Waiting to meet them was the delegation from Shanghai Construction Group Co., Ltd (SCG), led by Group President Mr. Ye Weidong. At their side stood Eng. Charles Muasya, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigation Authority, together with his senior team. The agenda was clear and urgent: how to harvest and store more water for a nation that has seen too many years of drought. A Meeting of Vision and Opportunity The discussion that followed was not ordinary. SCG, a global player in large-scale infrastructure, expressed its keen interest in partnering with NIA to construct major dams in Keny...

By Victor Oyuko  For decades, Kenya has battled the challenge of feeding its people in an era of unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising global food prices. The question has always been the same: how can the country unite the strength of government and the private sector to build a food system that is both productive and resilient? The answer began to take shape long before most Kenyans knew about it. On 11th August 2025, during the Public-Private Partnership High-Level Symposium, that vision finally stepped into the spotlight. A Leader with a Clear Message It was at this gathering that the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, took the stage with a message that was both inspiring and practical. His words cut through the complexity of policy and finance to reveal something simple yet powerful. The National Government, particularly the National Treasury, holds the key to unlocking large-scale private investment ...

By Victor Oyuko  It began as an idea. An ambitious plan whispered in government boardrooms and discussed in hushed tones among farmers; transforming Galana Kulalu from a dry, windswept expanse into one of Kenya’s most productive farmlands. For years, it seemed too big, too costly, too ambitious to bring to life. But last Friday, something remarkable happened. The ground under that vision shifted. The future came into sharper focus. The Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, together with the Director General of the Public Private Partnership Directorate, Mr. Kefa Seda, stepped onto the project site. They were hosted by Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho, who had been guiding this vision with a quiet but steady hand. The visit was not ceremonial. It was a checkpoint in a story of transformation; proof that the work was moving from paper to soil, from plans to produce. The Reservoir That Changed the Equation For Galana Kulalu, water was always the make-or-break ...

By Victor Oyuko   There is a quiet revolution taking place in Migori County. In the heart of Nyatike Sub-county, farmers from the Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme have made headlines with a rare success story in Kenya’s agricultural sector. While most rice-growing regions in the country are struggling to catch up, these farmers are harvesting more rice per acre than the national average. Their story is a beacon of hope, a case study in what happens when government support meets community commitment. Surpassing National Rice Yields At a time when food security is a national concern, Lower Kuja is standing tall as a shining example of what focused investment, strategic partnerships, and grassroots commitment can achieve. The numbers speak volumes. While the national average rice yield stands at 2.8 tonnes per acre, farmers from the Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme are averaging 3.6 tonnes per acre. That’s nearly an extra tonne of rice from every acre, an achievement that has put them in the ...