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Kenya, November 10, 2026 - Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho has called on professionals to help Kenya develop water and irrigation projects that can attract private investment.
Speaking at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) 43rd Annual Seminar in Mombasa, Kimotho said the country needs bankable projects to secure water, food and energy.
He said professionals should help turn government plans into projects that can be financed, built and delivered.
“Kenya’s transformation agenda requires a coordinated, innovative, ethical and results-driven professional community,” the Principal Secretary said in a statement from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation.
His message was direct. Kenya cannot rely on government funding alone to build the dams, irrigation schemes and water systems needed to support farming, industry and households.
The government wants private investors to come in. But investors will only put money into projects that show clear costs, returns, risks and repayment plans.
That is where accountants and other professionals come in. They can help prepare financial models, assess risks, manage procurement and ensure public money is used properly.
Kimotho said projects must be economically viable, socially inclusive and environmentally responsible.
He also said professionals should help close the gap between policy and implementation.
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Government plans, he said, must become practical actions that produce measurable results for citizens.
The remarks came at a seminar attended by senior government officials.
Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei was the chief guest. Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono and Molo MP Kuria Kimani also addressed the gathering.
Kimani, who chairs the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, said the accountancy profession has a role in sound financial management and sustainable development.
The seminar ran from November 9 to 13 under the theme “Advancing Trust and Credibility in a Changing World.”
Kimotho’s message is not new. The government has previously pushed public-private partnerships as a way to finance major development projects.
But the challenge remains delivery. Many water and irrigation projects require heavy upfront investment, long repayment periods and careful management of public risk.
The question now is whether Kenya can move from calls for private investment to a clear pipeline of projects that investors are willing to fund.