Irrigation Wins takes centre stage as PS Kimotho Rallies Staff Toward a Bold 2026

Thursday afternoon offered a refreshing and energising moment for the entire State Department for Irrigation as Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho led staff in a comprehensive reflection on the year’s achievements, challenges, and emerging priorities. The atmosphere was warm, collegial, and forward-looking, an ideal environment to take stock of the remarkable strides made in 2025 while charting a clear course for 2026. It was both a celebration and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment that continues to anchor irrigation as a pillar of Kenya’s food security strategy.

The session served as a timely reminder of how far the Department has travelled in strengthening irrigation-led development, from policy reforms and institutional restructuring to new acreage brought under irrigation and the expansion of farmer-led initiatives across the country. As teams shared insights and engaged openly, one could sense the collective pride in the progress achieved as well as renewed enthusiasm for the work that lies ahead.

A Year Marked by Policy Progress and Institutional Strengthening

In 2025, the State Department for Irrigation registered a series of significant milestones that underscored its central role in advancing Kenya’s agricultural transformation. One of the most notable accomplishments was the successful launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), which now provides a unified long-term framework to guide the sector’s transformation agenda. NISIP is already proving to be a critical tool for rational resource allocation, investment prioritisation, and structured coordination among state and non-state partners.

Throughout the year, the State Department also held several high-level engagements with His Excellency the President. These engagements were not merely ceremonial. They reflected irrigation’s elevated position within the national agenda for climate resilience, enhanced agricultural productivity, and sustainable economic growth. The political goodwill seen throughout 2025 confirmed the Government’s recognition that irrigation is indispensable to achieving food sufficiency.

Institutionally, the Department implemented its approved organisational structure, marking an important step in strengthening technical leadership across the Irrigation Secretariat. New Secretaries, Directors, Deputy Directors, and technical entry officers were onboarded, injecting new energy and specialised capacity into the Department. Additionally, long-standing issues of staff stagnation were addressed through close engagement with the Public Service Commission. This ensured that dedicated officers who had served the sector for years finally received the recognition and progression they deserved. The session today provided space to appreciate these improvements and to reaffirm the importance of investing in the human capital that powers the irrigation agenda.

Milestones in Project Delivery and Sector Transformation

Project delivery in 2025 demonstrated a shift toward accelerated, structured, and community-forward implementation. Among the outstanding accomplishments was the completion, handover, and revival of several key projects, including the SIMPK initiative, which unlocked additional irrigation potential and provided beneficiaries with renewed confidence in government-led interventions.

Equally significant was the progress recorded under the NISIP K-RISE programme. The preparation phase gained momentum, supported strongly by the World Bank Group, signalling a clear pathway toward mobilising resources for large-scale investment across the irrigation ecosystem.

The State Department’s footprint also expanded across flagship schemes and regional irrigation clusters. High-level visits to major schemes—Galana, Bura, Mwea, Ahero, Lower Kuja, and Lower Nzoia—not only highlighted development progress but also underscored the Government’s commitment to ensuring efficient delivery and heightened accountability in the sector.

This renewed focus delivered tangible outputs. Under the 50 Mega Dams initiative, the State Department now hosts 19 dams that are expected to contribute 1.5 million acres of new irrigated land over time. Beyond these major infrastructure projects, community-led and smallholder-driven initiatives remained central to the Department’s approach. A total of 108,210 new acres were brought under irrigation, representing a significant boost to Kenya’s agricultural capacity and demonstrating the scale of transformation happening across counties.

One of the most encouraging outcomes was the growth in national rice production. Output rose dramatically from 192,000 metric tonnes to 293,000 metric tonnes, a 52.6 percent increase that reflects improved water availability, better farming practices, and strengthened farmer capacity. The Department’s work in promoting high-value crops, efficient irrigation technologies, and enhanced extension support played a crucial role in this achievement.

Strengthening School-Based Micro-Irrigation and ASAL Resilience

The State Department also made important progress in enhancing school-based micro-irrigation by installing boreholes, greenhouses, water storage units, and integrated irrigation systems in learning institutions. These investments expanded food production, strengthened school feeding programmes, and provided practical environmental learning opportunities for students. They also complemented Kenya’s broader climate resilience objectives by demonstrating sustainable water use in institutional settings.

In the arid and semi-arid regions, progress continued steadily. Areas such as Garsen, Grittu, Kajiado, and others benefited from targeted interventions under the Drought Resilience Programme for Northern Kenya. These investments helped stabilise food supply, reduce drought-related vulnerabilities, and enhance the productivity of smallholder households.

Partnerships, Resource Mobilisation, and the Expanding Support Ecosystem

A central focus in 2025 was resource mobilisation. The Department strengthened its engagement with development partners, climate finance institutions, and private sector investors to accelerate irrigation expansion. Highlights included discussions on mobilising financing for the NISIP K-RISE programme, commitments from the Government of Germany through the DRPNK initiative, and co-financing negotiations with the United Arab Emirates for the Galana Dam.

The National Treasury also committed resources to support interventions aimed at reducing Kenya’s rice deficit, further demonstrating strong intergovernmental alignment. Strategic partnerships were reinforced through a range of Memorandums of Understanding, such as those with Konza Technopolis, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and UNOPS. These partnerships strengthened technological integration, improved programme efficiency, and supported the development of innovative financing mechanisms.

Human Resource Growth and Capacity Building

The Department also registered substantial progress in staffing and career development. The onboarding of 30 new technical officers expanded internal capacity, while promotions and targeted recruitments addressed critical gaps in the technical and administrative structure. The finalisation and validation of the Career Progression Guidelines for technical cadres was a particularly important achievement. These guidelines ensure transparent, predictable, and merit-based growth for all technical staff, a commitment that aligns with the broader human resource reform agenda in the public service.

Capacity-building programmes, supported by various international partners, provided additional training opportunities that enhanced staff competencies in areas such as climate-smart irrigation, monitoring and evaluation, engineering design, and governance of water user associations.

Looking Ahead with Confidence and Renewed Commitment

The reflection session concluded with a shared sense of optimism and purpose. The achievements of 2025 are not simply accomplishments to be celebrated; they are building blocks for 2026 and the years ahead. As the State Department for Irrigation positions itself for the new year, its commitment remains clear: to expand irrigation sustainably, to reinforce climate resilience, to strengthen governance structures, and to ensure that farmers across the country benefit from modern, affordable, and reliable irrigation solutions.

Under the leadership of Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho, the sector is well aligned with the national vision for agricultural transformation. With an invigorated team, renewed partnerships, and a strengthened foundation, the State Department is poised to deliver even more impactful results in 2026.

Article by Victor Patience Oyuko. To support the blog, Mpesa: 0708883777