PS Ephantus Kimotho Launches Amboseli Irrigation Project

On Saturday, 1st November 2025, Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho officially launched the Amboseli Irrigation Project, marking a turning point for pastoral and farming communities in Kajiado County. 

The project is designed to tackle water scarcity, recurring droughts, and livestock deaths while opening new opportunities for irrigated farming and household water access.

Standing among residents, local leaders, engineers, and administration teams, PS Ephantus Kimotho called the project “a practical solution to a real problem, not promises, but pipelines, tanks, and water that will flow for the people.” His message was clear: irrigation is not just about increasing crop yields, it is about life, dignity, and economic transformation for communities living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

A Game-Changing Project for Livestock and Households

The Amboseli Irrigation Project is structured to supply 3.6 million litres of water every day. This is enough to sustain 15,000 livestock per water unit daily and nearly 1.4 million litres per hour when fully operational. For a region that has lost tens of thousands of animals to drought over the years, these numbers represent hope and security.

According to PS Kimotho, the project will cushion families from devastating drought losses, reduce livestock migration, and restore pastoral dignity. It will also create opportunities for fodder farming, greenhouse agriculture, small-scale horticulture, and reliable household water supply.

“This is how we stop drought from becoming a disaster. This is how resilience is built, with water, with planning, and with communities at the centre,” he told residents during the launch.

Engineering the Future: Springs, Pipelines, and Villages Connected

The project will source water from Looloitikoishi and Olgulului Springs, two natural aquifers that have sustained communities for generations but remained underutilized due to lack of infrastructure.

From these springs, engineers are constructing a 21.8-kilometre conveyance pipeline to transport water across the landscape to serve three villages. Upon completion, households, schools, farmers, and livestock owners will access clean, affordable, and consistent supply.

Construction will span approximately two years, and is being supervised by the State Department for Irrigation’s technical team led by Eng. Vincent Kabuti, OGW (Irrigation Secretary), and Mr. Joel Tanui (Secretary, Land Reclamation).

PS Kimotho praised their professionalism, saying, “This project has been designed not just to deliver water, but to deliver results. Every pipe, every storage point, every outlet is planned with the community in mind.”

Easing the Burden on Women and Girls

One of the strongest messages during the launch was on dignity, especially for women and young girls who walk long distances daily in search of water. With the new infrastructure, the long treks will become shorter or vanish entirely.

Mr. Michael Semera, the County Executive Committee Member for Water in Kajiado, reaffirmed the county’s partnership with the national government, saying the project reflects the kind of development that directly touches households.

PS Kimotho echoed this, saying, “When a girl does not spend five hours walking for water, she can go to school. When a mother can fetch water near her home, she can farm, trade, or rest. That is development that matters.”

Leadership and Partnerships

PS Ephantus Kimotho paid special tribute to Hon. Sakimba Parashina, the Kajiado South Member of Parliament, for his persistent lobbying for ASAL development. The MP highlighted that irrigation and water projects in his constituency now exceed KES 500 million in investment under the Kenya Kwanza Administration, a figure that underlines government commitment to underserved regions.

He also recognised the County Government of Kajiado, local administration officers, elders, and residents who supported the planning and land access stages of the project.

“This is a partnership, national government, county governments, community leaders, and engineers. No single person builds transformation; it happens when people stand together,” PS Kimotho said.

Turning Water into Wealth

The Amboseli Irrigation Project is more than a source of water, it is a foundation for local economies. By enabling year-round fodder production, farmers will no longer depend entirely on rain-fed pastures. This will support healthier livestock, improve milk and meat production, and reduce losses during dry spells.

Additionally, families will be able to grow cereals, vegetables, fruits, and fodder crops, turning dry land into productive fields. With time, small cooperatives for hay storage, milk cooling, and crop marketing are expected to emerge around the project areas.

“Water is not just for drinking, it is wealth, it is business, it is food, and it is freedom,” PS Kimotho emphasized.

Building Resilience for the Future

Droughts are no longer seasonal,  they are recurring realities. For decades, each drought brought the same tragedy: empty rivers, carcasses of livestock, dry wells, and communities lining up for relief food. Through irrigation, that cycle can be broken.

The Amboseli Irrigation Project fits within the larger national plan to make Kenya more resilient to climate change. It also aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by focusing on grassroots development.

PS Kimotho concluded his address by saying, “No community should be left behind in Kenya’s irrigation journey. From Turkana to Kajiado, from Taveta to Garissa, water must work for people. And today, right here in Amboseli, we are proving that it is possible.”

A New Chapter Begins

As the launch ceremony ended, community members gathered around maps and models of the project, discussing where pipelines would pass and how farmers could organize themselves. There was anticipation, but also relief that promises were turning into action.

While the pipes are yet to be buried and water is yet to flow, one thing is certain: a new chapter has begun for Kajiado.

And at its centre stands Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, a public servant turning policy into progress, and water into possibility.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To buy Coffee Mpesa 0708883777