LAUNCH OF THE FIRST SEED MAIZE HARVEST UNDER PPP IN GALANA.

Today, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) hosted the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, for the official launch of the first seed maize harvest under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.

The CS was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, the Chair of the National Assembly Committee for Irrigation, Hon. Kangogo Bowen, and other senior government officials.

They were received by the NIA Chairman, Eng. Gilbert Maluki, CEO Eng. Charles Muasya and other officials from the Authority.

The launch marks a critical milestone in the implementation of the PPP model. The inaugural seed maize crop, planted by Selu Ltd., the lead private investor, has delivered an impressive yield of approximately 30 90-kg bags per acre.

Out of the 1,500 acres initially cropped using 10 centre pivots, under this partnership, 330 acres are currently ready for harvest and are expected to be fully harvested within the next five days.

This collaborative effort is strategically positioned to establish a sustainable and high-quality national seed supply. Projections indicate that once fully cropped, the project will produce hundreds of thousands of bags annually, a significant boost to national food security.

This breakthrough harvest is not just a successful yield; it is a compelling proof point of the National Irrigation Authority’s ability to drive agricultural transformation through innovative collaboration. By leveraging the PPP framework, the Authority has successfully piloted a model that significantly de-risks seed production while accelerating Kenya’s journey towards agricultural self-sufficiency.

The Galana Kulalu project is on track to become a food hub for Kenya, supporting the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). We are committed to its success.