ICPAK 42nd Annual Seminar – Edition 2: "From Transactions to Transformation: Accountancy Impacting the World"

PS Kimotho Delivers Keynote Address on Structuring Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Economic Transformation

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho Kimani - PS, has underscored that Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) remain the most sustainable and strategic mechanism for delivering Kenya’s large scale development projects amid increasing fiscal pressure on the Exchequer. He emphasized that Kenya must leverage private capital to boost efficiency, drive innovation, enhance accountability, and ensure effective risk transfer to the private sector.

Speaking during the ongoing 42nd ICPAK Annual Seminar Edition 2, a week long professional forum taking place in Mombasa, PS Kimotho delivered a keynote address that highlighted the need to scale PPP adoption across key sectors of the economy.

The PS noted that capacity gaps within contracting authorities continue to hinder optimal PPP project structuring. He pointed out that many institutions still lack adequate capabilities for pre-feasibility analysis, project preparation, financial modelling, risk assessment, and transactional advisory services, all of which are fundamental to ensuring PPP success. He called for continuous enhancement of PPP frameworks, guided by affordability, value for money, commercial viability, and optimal risk allocation.

Using the national food security challenge as a case study, the PS highlighted that over 70% of counties are experiencing food poverty, noting that maize production in Kenya declined from 44 million bags (2018) to 34 million bags (2022), while retail prices rose from KES 30 to KES 76 over the same period. He referenced the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project as a successful PPP model, stating that its replication in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties could significantly transform Kenya’s food systems and reverse the food poverty curve.

The seminar was officially opened by Bishop Dr. David Oginde, Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), who emphasized the need for stronger governance, integrity, and accountability frameworks as core enablers of sustainable national transformation.

In concluding his address, PS Kimotho urged professional accountants, ICPAK leadership, and its membership to actively champion and mainstream PPPs as a catalytic instrument for long term economic growth, fiscal sustainability, and national development, positioning the accountancy profession at the core of public value creation.