Nairobi: The government has intensified its efforts to achieve food sufficiency in Kenya through the Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project, which has received a significant boost with a Sh12.5 billion investment from a private entity under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project, spanning 1.5 million acres across Kilifi and Tana River counties, is poised to transform the nation’s agricultural landscape. This transformation is expected to enhance food production, generate employment, improve livelihoods, and support agro-based industries with a reliable supply of raw materials.
The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has already constructed a 600,000m³ water reservoir, funded by Sh519 million from the National Treasury. This infrastructure can irrigate 10,000 acres and has attracted SELU Limited’s substantial investment of Sh12.5 billion into the project. Principal Secretaries Dr. Chris Kiptoo (National Treasury) and Eng. Ephantus Kimotho (Irrigation) recently visited the site to review the progress made.
Kiptoo revealed that SELU will initially develop 20,000 acres with the Sh12.5 billion investment. “The estimate is that if you put all these 20,000 acres under maize, every year they will be producing 70 bags per acre, which translates to about 1.4 million bags per year,” explained Dr. Kiptoo. He noted that at the current market price of Sh4,000 per bag, this would result in an annual income of Sh5.6 billion, highlighting the project’s commercial viability as a PPP initiative.
Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that the project demonstrates how to effectively manage the current economic challenges, given the government’s limited fiscal capacity due to obligations such as financing education, health, and debt repayment. “We are increasingly asking for the use of PPP where projects are commercially viable, and clearly this is an example of a commercially viable project,” stated the PS.
By leveraging the 1.5 million acres available in the Galana-Kulalu region, Dr. Kiptoo projected that the country’s food security would improve, leading to reduced imports and a lower need for foreign exchange. This would also enhance income for local farmers. He revealed that additional investments are planned, including the construction of the Galana Dam at a cost of Sh35 billion, with a contractor already identified.
Dr. Kiptoo assured that the National Treasury is collaborating with the Ministry of Water to initiate the project promptly. “Once the Sh35B water project is in place, it will generate a sufficient amount of water to attract more investors and encourage other government agencies to invest in this region. This is really the way to go,” he added.
The State Department for Irrigation received commendation for its efficient use of Sh519 million to establish water infrastructures. Irrigation PS Eng. Ephantus Kimotho highlighted the construction of a new intake, enabling the NIA to manage 10,000 acres initially. Part of the Sh12.5 billion will fund water storage, irrigation infrastructure, and on-farm roads to facilitate the movement of goods across the vast farm.
Eng. Kimotho noted that a bridge, being constructed by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, is progressing well and will aid in transporting goods. The current challenge is moving goods via the Baricho bridge, located 7 kilometers away.
Additionally, SELU has engaged a Korean firm to install a solar water pumping system with a capacity of 2.5 megawatts, transitioning from the existing diesel-powered system. The Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation is also setting up a power plant, anticipated to be operational by June 2026, which will reduce production costs and encourage increased investor production.
“We are also working closely with other investors because the Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Project has a potential of 1.5 million acres. Phase one, we are doing 10,000 acres with the normal water flow that we have,” said Kimotho. He added that phase two will expand to 32,000 acres after dam completion, with phase three providing an additional 500,000 acres.
