The Kenya Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Kenya’s food security as a cornerstone of national stability and self-reliance.
Speaking on the initiative, Permanent Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo, said that food security is an integral part of the country’s security agenda, noting that “a well-fed nation is a secure nation.”
PS Omollo highlighted that the Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme is being revitalised under a Public-Private Partnership model, using modern agricultural technologies to safeguard livelihoods, reduce vulnerability, and ensure sustainable food production.
At the centre of the scheme is fertigation, the application of water-soluble fertilisers through irrigation systems, implemented via advanced centre pivot irrigation technology.
Currently, nine pivot systems are operational, with plans to expand to 23 pivots to cover an initial 3,000 acres.
The project supports the cultivation of key staple and commercial crops, including maize, onions, and cassava.
Expansion is set to continue rapidly, with the scheme’s acreage expected to reach 6,400 by June 2026 and scale up to 20,000 acres in its initial phase.
PS Omollo said the technology-driven approach is expected to reduce Kenya’s reliance on food imports by up to 40%, strengthening national food sovereignty while contributing to long-term economic and security objectives.
As part of the programme, the Galana-Kulalu Bridge, which links Kilifi and Tana River counties, is now 90 per cent complete, according to the PS. The remaining work is on the bridge deck, with 120 workers currently on site.
The bridge is expected to improve access and transport between the two counties, serving as a vital link between the Galana-Kulalu food security project and the Malindi-Sala Gate Road. This will enhance the movement of agricultural produce and farm inputs, cutting long detours previously made via the Baricho Bridge and reducing transport bottlenecks.
Omollo credited the ministry for efficiently coordinating project implementation, providing security surveillance, and linking local communities to government services, job opportunities, and broader national development.
The Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project was launched by President William Ruto on January 4, 2023, to create employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s food security.
A Second Chance for a Stalled Vision
The Galana-Kulalu project has a complicated history. First launched in August 2014 under the Jubilee administration, the initiative aimed to transform 1 million acres of idle land in the coastal belt into Kenya’s agricultural breadbasket. A direct contract worth KSh14.5 billion was awarded to an Israeli company to develop a 10,000-acre model farm.
However, bureaucratic delays, funding challenges, and poor management left large portions of the project incomplete. For years, the scheme became synonymous with unfulfilled promises and wasted potential, with critics questioning whether Kenya’s largest irrigation project would ever deliver on its ambitious goals.
That narrative began to change in January 2023 when President Ruto issued a directive to revive the project under a new Public-Private Partnership framework. This time, the government partnered with private investors to bring technical expertise, modern farming methods, and financial muscle to the scheme.
Three companies now hold significant stakes in the project. Selu Africa Limited has been allocated 20,000 acres, Nyumbani Foundation controls 50,000 acres, and Al Dahra of the United Arab Emirates manages 180,000 acres. Together, these partnerships represent a total investment of approximately KSh12.5 billion in irrigation infrastructure, storage facilities, and internal farm roads.
Record Yields Signal Turning Point
The revitalised project has already produced tangible results. In October 2025, the scheme celebrated its first successful harvest under the new management model. The initial 1,500-acre pilot produced an impressive yield of 30 bags of seed maize per acre, translating to approximately 35 bags of 90 kilograms each per acre in some sections.
This yield is nearly four times Kenya’s national average, marking a historic achievement for the project. National Irrigation Authority CEO Charles Muasya described the results as proof that the scheme’s potential can be realized with proper infrastructure and management.
According to Kishor Patel, Manager of Nyumba Group, the project currently cultivates cassava, onions, and maize using pivot irrigation systems. Nine pivots are operational out of 23 installed, with each pivot irrigating 120 acres. By early 2026, when all 23 pivots are operational, the scheme will have approximately 3,000 acres under irrigation.
Patel outlined ambitious expansion plans. The long-term goal is to cultivate between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of cassava, 10,000 acres of maize, and up to 15,000 acres of onions. At full scale, the project is expected to employ at least 2,000 people directly and create thousands more indirect jobs through agro-processing and value addition.
Massive Dam Project Unlocks Full Potential
The most significant development came on December 30, 2025, when Kenya signed a KSh40 billion contract with China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd for the construction of the Galana-Kulalu Dam. The agreement, signed in partnership with the United Arab Emirates, marks a decisive shift toward large-scale, reliable irrigation.
President Ruto described the dam as a game-changer that will address the water bottleneck that has historically limited the project’s expansion. The dam will have a storage capacity of 305 million cubic metres and is expected to deliver up to one billion cubic metres of water annually for irrigation and other uses.
Once completed, the dam will enable irrigation of up to 300,000 acres across Tana River and Kilifi counties. This represents a fifteen-fold increase from the current operational acreage and will position Galana-Kulalu as Kenya’s largest agricultural zone.
The dam is not just about irrigation. It will also provide safe drinking water to an estimated 70,000 households in surrounding communities, improving public health and living standards for residents who have long struggled with water access.
President Ruto emphasized the broader economic implications of the dam. He said strengthening agricultural productivity and food security will stabilize food prices, reduce imports, grow exports, and expand agro-processing and value addition. This, in turn, will create thousands of jobs for young Kenyans and drive inclusive economic growth.
Addressing Kenya’s Import Dependence
Kenya’s reliance on food imports has been a growing concern for policymakers and economists. In January 2024, the country’s food and beverage import bill reached approximately KSh25.9 billion, equivalent to around USD196 million. The nation predominantly imports maize, unmilled wheat, wheat flour, rice, and sugar from Uganda, South Africa, European countries, India, and the United States.
Data from the Agriculture and Food Authority shows that in 2024, Kenya imported 214,067 tonnes of maize, equivalent to around 2.4 million 90-kilogram bags. This represented a 56.18 percent drop from the 488,535 tonnes imported in 2023, a decline largely attributed to bumper harvests resulting from favourable weather conditions.
Rice imports also saw a significant reduction, falling from 979,352 tonnes in 2023 to 678,110 tonnes in 2024, a decrease of 301,242 tonnes. Wheat imports dropped from 1.99 million tonnes in 2023 to 1.81 million tonnes in 2024, a reduction of 180,498 tonnes.
While these improvements are encouraging, Kenya still faces a significant structural challenge. The country’s import dependency ratio for vegetable products stood at 19.4 percent in 2019, up from 18.9 percent in 2018. For animal products, the ratio increased from 2.9 to 4.2 percent during the same period.
The Galana-Kulalu project is designed to address this dependence head-on. Once fully operational, the scheme is expected to produce hundreds of thousands of bags of maize annually, with projections reaching 14 million bags when the entire 300,000-acre expansion is complete. This would exceed Kenya’s current maize deficit of approximately 10 million bags.
Infrastructure Development as Enabler
Beyond irrigation, the government has invested heavily in supporting infrastructure to ensure the project’s success. The construction of the Galana-Kulalu Bridge stands as a critical piece of this infrastructure puzzle.
Started in January 2025, the 200-metre-long bridge is being constructed at a cost of KSh1.493 billion under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority. PS Omollo confirmed that the bridge is now 90 percent complete, with major substructure works finished and contractors now focused on superstructure and deck works.
KeRRA Coast Regional Director Timothy Kendagor stated that trucks transporting farm produce should be able to use the bridge by March 2026. The bridge will connect the irrigation scheme directly to the Malindi-Sala Gate Road, eliminating long detours previously made via the Baricho Bridge, which is located approximately 50 kilometres downstream.
The Baricho Bridge itself, constructed at a cost of KSh2.3 billion, is now 95 percent complete, with the bridge structure at 99 percent completion. This complementary infrastructure will further enhance regional connectivity and support agricultural logistics.
Electrification represents another major infrastructure investment. The Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation has begun a KSh2.9 billion project to connect the farm to the national grid. This will cut reliance on costly diesel-powered pumps and significantly reduce production costs.
REREC Senior Engineer Muigai Nicholas reported that civil works for a step-down substation inside the farm are 30 percent complete. The power line will run from Baolala to the Galana-Kulalu farm in three sections, with substations along the route. Two transformers are being installed to support the scheme’s energy needs, with completion expected by 2026.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite the progress, the project faces several operational challenges. Crop destruction by wild animals, including elephants, zebras, and hippos, remains a persistent problem due to the scheme’s proximity to Tsavo East National Park.
Selu Africa Limited CEO Nicholas Ambanya explained that the company has established a conservancy buffer, a 33-kilometre electric fence, and trenches to keep wild animals out of the farms. Workers have also been trained to coexist with wildlife while protecting crops.
Another challenge is the high cost of power. Until the electrification project is complete, farms rely on expensive diesel generators to power irrigation pumps. This increases production costs and reduces profit margins.
PS Omollo and other government officials have acknowledged these challenges while emphasizing that solutions are being implemented systematically. The electric fence and wildlife management protocols are already in place, and the grid connection will eliminate the diesel dependency by 2026.
Economic and Social Impact
The economic implications of a fully operational Galana-Kulalu scheme are substantial. Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho noted that just 10,000 acres under irrigation at Galana can generate KSh2.8 billion annually while creating over 500 jobs.
When scaled to 300,000 acres, the economic multiplier effects become transformative. Beyond direct agricultural production, the project is expected to catalyze agro-processing industries, reduce post-harvest losses through improved infrastructure, and support vital social amenities including schools, housing, and health centres for local communities.
The employment impact is equally significant. Selu Africa has already created 500 jobs at the current scale of operations. At full capacity, the company expects to directly employ at least 2,000 people. Across all three private sector partners, total direct employment could exceed 10,000 jobs, with many more created in supporting industries.
For surrounding communities in Tana River and Kilifi counties, the project represents more than just employment opportunities. Access to safe drinking water for 70,000 households will reduce waterborne diseases and improve overall quality of life. Improved road infrastructure will enhance market access for smallholder farmers and local traders.
National Food Security Strategy
The Galana-Kulalu project fits within Kenya’s broader food security strategy, which emphasizes the transition from rain-fed to irrigation-based agriculture. The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis has noted that Kenya’s population is projected to increase by 30 percent, roughly 15 million people, by 2030. This demographic growth will widen the gap between food consumption and production, rendering more people food insecure.
Although Kenya has an estimated 1.3 million hectares of irrigation potential land, only 150,600 hectares had been put under irrigation as of 2018. The Galana-Kulalu scheme alone could add up to 120,000 hectares of irrigated land, representing a nearly 80 percent increase in the country’s total irrigated acreage.
Irrigation Secretary Joel Tanui emphasized that irrigation is a key driver of County Aggregated Irrigation Plans, which anchor agricultural development at the grassroots level. The rice deficit, for example, will be tackled through collaboration between large-scale projects like Galana-Kulalu and smallholder producers.
Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury John Mbadi has pledged full support from his ministry to ensure the success of Galana-Kulalu and other irrigation projects. He noted that local food production shields the Kenya shilling from the pressures of food imports, providing macroeconomic benefits beyond food security alone.
Looking Ahead
As the Galana-Kulalu project enters its most ambitious phase, expectations are high. The completion of the KSh40 billion dam by 2028 will unlock the scheme’s full potential, enabling irrigation of 300,000 acres and positioning Kenya as a regional agricultural powerhouse.
However, challenges remain. Legal disputes over the National Infrastructure Fund, which is financing Kenya’s contribution to the dam, have raised concerns. In late December 2025, the High Court issued conservatory orders staying the implementation of the fund following a petition that argued it was established illegally through a State House communiqué rather than an Act of Parliament.
President Ruto maintains that the investment is anchored in a sustainable Water Purchase Agreement framework, which is already part of Kenya’s legal structure. Critics, however, warn that if the court nullifies the fund’s legal standing, the contract could face delays similar to those that plagued earlier phases of the project.
Despite these uncertainties, momentum at the project site remains strong. Construction continues on the bridge, electrification works progress steadily, and private investors are expanding cultivated acreage according to schedule.
For PS Omollo and other government officials, the message is clear: food security is inseparable from national security. A well-fed nation is a secure nation, and the Galana-Kulalu project represents Kenya’s most significant effort to achieve both.
As the pumps roar and green shoots rise from once-barren soil, the Galana-Kulalu project is transforming from a symbol of unfulfilled promises into a working model of agricultural transformation. If current momentum continues, Kenya’s dream of food self-sufficiency may finally be within reach.
