PS Kimotho celebrates irrigation achievements at end year Public Service Dinner

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho joined an esteemed gathering of public service leaders yesterday in Kisumu County for the End of Year Public Service Reflection Dinner. The event, hosted by Mr. Felix K. Koskei, EGH, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, brought together Principal Secretaries, CEOs, Chairpersons of State Corporations, Directors General, and guest Cabinet Secretaries. The dinner provided a rare opportunity to take stock of the year’s milestones, celebrate successes, and strategically plan for 2026.

For PS Ephantus Kimotho and the State Department for Irrigation, 2025 was a year defined by meaningful progress. Across the irrigation ecosystem, tangible results were recorded, from the launch of new large-scale projects to the expansion of smallholder irrigation schemes. These achievements reflect a deliberate and coordinated approach to transforming Kenya’s agricultural landscape through modern, climate-resilient irrigation systems.

Advancing Flagship and Community Irrigation Projects

A highlight of the year was the commencement of farming activities at the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, which remains one of Kenya’s flagship irrigation initiatives. This project exemplifies how modern irrigation systems can drive large-scale food production, strengthen national food security, and support livelihoods across multiple counties.

Simultaneously, the Bura Irrigation Scheme underwent a significant transition to a gravity-fed system, enhancing operational efficiency, reducing dependence on costly pumping solutions, and ensuring reliable water delivery for farmers. These large-scale interventions were complemented by the scaling up of community-based irrigation projects across Mount Kenya and other regions, which expanded acreage under irrigation and directly enhanced farmer productivity. Smallholder farmers who previously relied on rain-fed agriculture now have consistent access to water, enabling them to grow high-value crops and diversify their production systems.

Launching the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan

In March 2025, PS Ephantus Kimotho and the State Department for Irrigation marked a major milestone with the launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (2025–2035). This plan provides a cohesive framework to guide the country’s irrigation transformation, outlining priorities for investment, sector coordination, financing mechanisms, and operational governance.

The Investment Plan has since facilitated strategic engagements with bilateral and multilateral partners, private investors, and climate financing platforms. These efforts have accelerated implementation and ensured that irrigation initiatives are well-resourced, sustainable, and aligned with Kenya’s broader food security and economic objectives. PS Kimotho expressed gratitude for the support of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, as well as development partners including the World Bank, the German Government through KfW, and JICA.

Driving Irrigation Expansion Through Blended Financing

Looking ahead to 2026, the State Department for Irrigation under PS Ephantus Kimotho is firmly committed to expanding irrigated land sustainably while reducing the cost of production for farmers. A key strategy involves leveraging blended financing models to accelerate the delivery of both large-scale and community-level irrigation infrastructure.

By combining government resources, private sector investment, and climate financing, the Department aims to create scalable, resilient systems that provide long-term benefits to smallholder farmers and commercial agribusinesses alike. This approach ensures that irrigation projects remain financially viable, technically robust, and capable of supporting Kenya’s ambitious food security targets.

Strengthening Governance and Farmer-Led Initiatives

PS Kimotho emphasized the critical role of governance in sustaining irrigation systems. Irrigation Water Users Associations (IWUAs) will continue to be empowered and supported to transition into formal cooperatives. This shift strengthens local management, improves accountability, and ensures proper maintenance of irrigation infrastructure.

Alongside governance improvements, water storage and conveyance systems are being enhanced to optimize supply, reduce losses, and support year-round production. The Department is also scaling climate-smart irrigation solutions, including solar-powered systems, pressurized irrigation technologies, and digital monitoring platforms. These innovations allow farmers and administrators to make data-driven decisions, increase efficiency, and reduce operational costs while minimizing environmental impact.

Expanding Farmer-Led Irrigation Development

A central focus of PS Kimotho’s vision for 2026 is the expansion of Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID). By providing wider access to subsidized irrigation technologies, intensive farmer capacity building, and innovative financing mechanisms, the Department is enabling farmers to take control of their production systems.

FLID initiatives encourage smallholder farmers to adopt efficient irrigation methods, diversify crops, and integrate sustainable farming practices. These interventions are designed to create inclusive growth in agricultural productivity, ensuring that both rural communities and commercial farmers benefit from modern irrigation infrastructure.

Aligning Irrigation with Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Climate resilience remains a central theme in all interventions led by PS Ephantus Kimotho. From solar-powered pumping systems to pressurized irrigation networks, the Department is prioritizing technologies that reduce dependency on fossil fuels, mitigate environmental risks, and enhance water-use efficiency.

These efforts are particularly critical as Kenya faces increasing climate variability, erratic rainfall, and prolonged dry spells. By embedding resilience in both infrastructure and governance systems, PS Kimotho is ensuring that Kenya’s irrigation expansion is sustainable, adaptive, and capable of withstanding future climatic shocks.

Building a Strong Foundation for 2026

The reflection dinner in Kisumu offered more than just a celebration. It was an opportunity for PS Ephantus Kimotho and his colleagues to collectively set the agenda for the coming year, ensuring that 2026 builds on the momentum achieved in 2025. The focus is clear: expand irrigated land, strengthen governance, empower farmers, reduce production costs, and integrate climate-smart practices across all projects.

The achievements of 2025 provide a solid foundation. Strategic projects such as the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, the upgraded Bura Irrigation Scheme, and numerous smallholder initiatives across Mount Kenya and other regions demonstrate that coordinated efforts can transform communities, increase household incomes, and strengthen national food security.

Commitment to Inclusive Growth and National Food Security

Under PS Ephantus Kimotho, the State Department for Irrigation continues to place smallholder farmers at the center of Kenya’s irrigation transformation. By combining infrastructure development, capacity building, governance strengthening, and innovative financing, the Department is creating an ecosystem that enables farmers to thrive.

These efforts align with the broader national agenda to enhance food security, promote economic growth in rural areas, and ensure sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture. The reflection dinner provided a moment to recognize these achievements, reinforce partnerships with stakeholders, and galvanize the public service toward a common vision for 2026.

Looking Forward

As Kenya moves into 2026, PS Kimotho and the State Department for Irrigation are poised to accelerate irrigation expansion and innovation. By focusing on sustainable practices, climate-smart technologies, cooperative governance, and farmer-led initiatives, the Department aims to ensure that irrigation projects translate into measurable improvements in productivity, incomes, and resilience.

The public service reflection dinner in Kisumu was a reminder that progress is achieved through collective effort, strategic planning, and consistent execution. For PS Ephantus Kimotho, the year ahead is an opportunity to deepen impact, empower communities, and continue building a robust, modern, and sustainable irrigation sector that benefits all Kenyans.

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

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