PS Kimotho leads irrigation policy review to support Ruto’s 2 million acres plan

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, who is leading the push to reform the irrigation sector, said the review, which comes nearly a decade after the current policy was developed in 2017, is being considered to address emerging challenges and gaps.

According to the department, the sector has undergone significant transformation over the years, exposing policy, legal, institutional and operational gaps that have limited the effectiveness of the current framework in responding to the changing needs of agriculture and the wider economy.

Kimotho on Wednesday received a progress brief on the ongoing review at Maji House in Nairobi, where technical teams outlined proposed reforms expected to reshape irrigation development and management across the country.

The Principal Secretary said the review is expected to strengthen the sector’s ability to support food security, improve agricultural productivity and create employment opportunities through expanded irrigated farming.

Officials involved in the process say the revised policy will focus on improving coordination among institutions, eliminating duplication of roles, enhancing governance structures and accelerating investment in irrigation infrastructure.

Kimotho underscored that the government is also seeking to modernise irrigation systems through the adoption of new technologies, improved water management and climate-resilient farming practices as pressure mounts on the agriculture sector to sustain food production amid changing weather patterns.

“The revised policy is expected to provide a modern framework for sustainable irrigation development through improved water management, enhanced climate resilience, adoption of innovative irrigation technologies, and increased investment in irrigation infrastructure across the country,” the PS said.

The policy review is further expected to align the irrigation sector with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which identifies agriculture as a key pillar in driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.