Kilifi: Speaking during a site tour of the Galana-Kulalu Food Security project in Kilifi and Tana River Counties, the Chief of Staff praised the progress made, highlighting the implementation of critical infrastructure to boost agricultural productivity through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) system. “When this administration came to power, we realized that the fiscal space was so tight. The tax base was narrow. It was impossible to collect taxes and invest the same for huge, serious projects like this one,” he stated.
According to Kenya News Agency, since the government began leveraging PPPs, the country has made significant progress, particularly in road construction and large agricultural initiatives like the Galana/Kulalu Food Security Project, which is reportedly advancing well. “There is good progress; the infrastructure shows not only the viability of the project, but also assures us of returns,” the Chief of Staff remarked to journalists.
Accompanying him were the Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigation Authority, Eng. Charles Muasya. Koskei announced that three private partners are currently on site, with one having planted about 700 acres of seed maize, expected to expand to 3,200 acres by October this year and 5,000 acres by February 2026. The project aims to mitigate the seed maize deficit currently met through imports from countries like South Africa and the USA.
Among the project’s achievements, Koskei emphasized the construction of a 450,000 cubic-meter water reservoir and a new intake system to address persistent silting issues, ensuring a consistent water supply to the vast irrigation scheme. He noted that all previously installed center pivots are fully operational. “The kind of infrastructure that we have can comfortably support 12,000 acres. We also have plans to come up with a dam within the Tsavo East National Park. The designs have been done and shortly construction will start and that will help us open up 200,000 acres of land for agricultural use here,” he explained.
Koskei mentioned a feasibility study indicating the possibility of bringing water through a pipeline from the Grand High Dam to Galana, which, combined with existing resources, will help achieve a one-million-acre production target. The government has also integrated researchers into the project to ensure data-driven strategies, with research outputs to be shared with local universities and research institutions worldwide.
The project will focus on animal feed production and other high-demand crops in addition to maize. Koskei urged investors to consider the region’s fertile soils and vast land, advocating for a diversified agricultural base. He also revealed that two private investors are already active within the Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County, with one cultivating 40,000 acres of rice and the other 35,000 acres for sugarcane farming. These investments aim to address key food crop deficits, with sugar and rice shortfalls estimated at 500,000-600,000 and 700,000-800,000 metric tons, respectively.
With traditional maize-growing regions experiencing land pressure due to population growth, Koskei stated that the Galana/Kulalu and Bura projects represent a strategic shift in Kenya’s food security plan. “We are steadily moving toward self-reliance, and these partnerships are key to getting us there,” he affirmed.
