The Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, was on Thursday (today) appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Centre for Transformative Research and Development (CETRAD) during its relaunch at the University of Nairobi.

 CETRAD was first established in 1976 and PS Kimotho as its Chair of the Board of Trustees, is expected to lead the Trust into a new dawn.

 The relaunch of CETRAD is a collaboration between the Government of Kenya through the State Department for Irrigation, the University of Nairobi and the University of Bern and heralds a great future for research and innovation that is expected to benefit Kenyan communities and in the region.

The launch was preceded by a high-level meeting of the Board of Trustees, which had been convened to constitute a new Board to lead the Trust with CETRAD Director, Mr. Boniface Kiteme, chairing the session.

 Among those in the meeting were: Prof. Jack Odhiambo, who represented the Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Prof. Thomas Breu and Dr. Theresia Tribaldos of the University of Bern; and Joel Tanui, Irrigation Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, who represented the Principal Secretary, CPA. Ephantus Kimotho, and Maurice Opondo, Director Irrigation Water Management also from the State Department for Irrigation.

Prof. Jack Odhiambo reiterated the University of Nairobi’s commitment to the Trust, highlighting the benefits the University has gained from its long-standing partnership and reaffirmed its continued collaboration in meeting the Trust’s goals in the region.

On his part, the Irrigation Secretary, Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management, Joel Tanui, emphasized the State Department for Irrigation commitment in achieving CETRAD’s mandate, highlighting the critical role CETRAD will play in meeting the objectives of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), Kenya’s irrigation blueprint for the next 10 years.

 Prof. Thomas Breu affirmed the University of Bern’s continued trust and commitment to the partnership.

The new dawn for CETRAD will be spearheaded by the State Department for Irrigation, representing the Government and linking CETRAD’s work to national policy; the University of Bern, which will be providing academic expertise and research support; while the University of Nairobi will be contributing faculty expertise, research facilities and student involvement; heralding a great future for research that will shape innovation and transform communities.

by Isaac Sanya & Peninah Kihika