PS Kimotho Joins President Ruto to Launch Major Mau Forest Restoration Drive

 

Today, the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, stood alongside President William Ruto in Nakuru County for a landmark event, the official launch of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (MFC-ICLIP). 

The launch, held at the degraded Gacharage Forest Block in Kuresoi North, marked the start of a powerful 10-year mission to restore Kenya’s largest water tower and secure the country’s environmental future.

As President Ruto led a symbolic tree-planting exercise to kick off the programme, PS Kimotho joined fellow Principal Secretaries, Cabinet Secretaries, and local leaders in reaffirming a shared national duty: to protect the Mau Forest and, by extension, Kenya’s lifeline of water and food systems.

A Strong Statement for Nature and the Nation

For PS Kimotho, the event was not just another government activity, it was a statement of purpose. Standing under the Mau skies, he spoke with conviction about the connection between forests, water, and food security.

“When we restore the Mau, we restore life,” he said. “Every tree we plant is a step toward sustainable irrigation, stronger communities, and a more food-secure Kenya.”

His words carried weight because they came from someone whose daily work directly depends on what happens in the country’s catchment areas. As the man steering the State Department for Irrigation, PS Kimotho understands that irrigation cannot thrive without healthy rivers; and healthy rivers begin in well-protected forests.

Why the Mau Forest Matters

The Mau Forest Complex is not just a patch of trees. It is the heart of Kenya’s water system, feeding key rivers such as Sondu, Mara, Ewaso Ng’iro, and Njoro. These rivers power turbines, water crops, and sustain wildlife and communities far beyond Nakuru.

But years of encroachment, charcoal burning, and land degradation have weakened this lifeline. That is why the MFC-ICLIP programme which aims to restore 33,138 hectares of the forest; is so critical. It’s about repairing what was lost and creating a new balance between people and the environment.

PS Kimotho praised the government’s bold approach to involving communities in this mission. “The success of restoration will depend on the people who live near these forests. When they see the benefits; from clean water to green jobs; they will protect what they helped rebuild,” he said.

Linking Forests to Irrigation and Food Security

The connection between the Mau and irrigation is not abstract. Forests regulate rainfall, recharge aquifers, and prevent siltation in dams and canals. Without healthy forests, irrigation systems fail.

That is why PS Kimotho views this programme as part of a much larger puzzle; one that includes his department’s ongoing reforms in irrigation management. Under his leadership, the State Department for Irrigation has been modernising systems and promoting smart technologies to improve efficiency and accountability in water use.

Earlier this month, PS Kimotho oversaw the signing of a Cloud Hosting Agreement with Konza Technopolis to host the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) Management Information System. The digital system will track data on irrigation projects nationwide, ensuring every litre of water is accounted for.

“Mau feeds the rivers, and our systems manage that water,” he said. “Together, they form the backbone of Kenya’s food security. You can’t separate one from the other.”

A Whole-of-Society Effort

PS Kimotho also acknowledged the leadership of his colleague, Eng. Festus Ngeno, the Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, who is guiding the MFC-ICLIP rollout. He applauded the programme’s whole-of-society approach, which brings together government agencies, counties, private partners, and communities.

“This is how transformation happens; when everyone, from a farmer in Kuresoi to a policymaker in Nairobi, works toward one shared goal,” he said.

The programme will create green jobs, especially for young people and women, by promoting tree nurseries, agroforestry, and eco-friendly enterprises. It is a practical model of environmental conservation that also supports livelihoods.

In Line with Kenya’s 15-Billion Tree Goal

The Mau restoration effort also ties directly to President Ruto’s vision of growing 15 billion trees by 2032. This ambitious goal is part of Kenya’s strategy to fight climate change and secure its natural resources for future generations.

For PS Kimotho, the message is clear: environmental restoration is not separate from economic growth;  it is a foundation for it. “When we grow trees, we grow jobs. When we protect forests, we protect farms. That’s how we build a stronger economy from the ground up,” he noted.

This thinking aligns perfectly with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA), which focuses on empowering communities through sustainable, grassroots initiatives.

Walking the Talk

PS Kimotho’s actions have consistently matched his words. Beyond speeches and policy papers, he has championed practical projects that link water, land, and technology. His approach is data-driven but people-centred; one that views irrigation not just as engineering, but as a service to the farmer, the environment, and the nation.

His participation in the Mau launch showed that environmental conservation is not a side issue for the irrigation sector; it is central to it. As he joined other leaders in planting trees, it was clear that this was more than ceremony. It was a pledge to rebuild Kenya’s natural capital, one tree and one drop of water at a time.

A Vision for a Climate-Resilient Kenya

The 10-year Mau Forest initiative is expected to transform how Kenya responds to climate challenges. Droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall have affected millions, threatening food production and livelihoods. The MFC-ICLIP aims to change that by restoring ecosystems that can absorb shocks and support long-term stability.

For PS Kimotho, resilience means planning for a future where every Kenyan can depend on reliable water and fertile land. “Climate change is real, but so is our ability to act. Through programmes like this, we are proving that Kenya can lead the way in building a greener, safer, and more productive future,” he said.

Looking Ahead

As the seedlings take root in Gacharage Forest, the real work begins. Over the next decade, the Mau Forest Complex will be reborn; not just as a natural wonder, but as a symbol of national renewal.

PS Kimotho’s presence at today’s launch was a reminder that conservation and irrigation are not competing priorities but complementary forces. Both are about sustaining life; one through protecting water sources, the other through using water wisely.

By aligning his department’s efforts with national conservation goals, PS Kimotho has positioned irrigation at the heart of Kenya’s climate and food security agenda. His leadership reflects a clear message: Kenya’s development must be green, inclusive, and forward-looking.

And as the sun set over Nakuru’s highlands, one thing was certain; today’s moment was not just about planting trees. It was about planting hope. Hope for cleaner rivers, thriving farms, and a country that values its natural gifts.

Under PS Kimotho’s watch, the State Department for Irrigation stands ready to ensure that this hope turns into lasting change; that every restored forest, every flowing river, and every irrigated acre brings Kenya closer to a future of resilience, abundance, and shared prosperity.

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Article by Victor Patience Oyuko.  To buy coffee Mpesa 0708883777