Background
Galana Kulalu Food Security project is located in the coastal region within Kilifi and Tana River Counties, situated about 105km North West from Malindi town off the Malindi-Voi Road. The area borders Tsavo East National Park to the East and it is accessible through the Malindi-Tsavo Road.
The project involves development of physical infrastructure for viable and economic utilization of the natural resources available within or accessible to the area making up the Galana Kulalu Ranches including but not limited to water storage, conveyance and distribution, irrigation, livestock production, aquaculture road network, land development, eco-tourism among others. It consists of various enterprises including maize, sugarcane, horticulture and orchards, dairy and beef ranching, fisheries, tourism and recreation, processing industries and human settlement.
Presidential Directives
In January 4, 2023, the President issued a directive for Galana Kulalu Food Security Project to move forward under implementation of the project through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement models. The aspects to be implemented under PPP included:
- Production on the already developed 10,000 acres, and an additional 10,000 acres in the medium term.
- Construction of Galana Dam to support another 350,000 acres for food production in the long term.
Status of Public Private Partnerships
Production in the 20,000 acres model farm
Selu Ltd submitted a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) to undertake production and after it was approved to move to the Project Development Phase, according to the PPP Act 2021, they embarked on trials on the already developed 10,000 acres. Their proposal was successfully evaluated and negotiations concluded. The Project Agreement was finalized, initialized and presented to the PPP committee for approval then Attorney General. After its approval it was signed and rolled out with Selu Ltd already on the ground.
Development of Galana Dam
The Dam is designed to hold 306 million cubic meters of water and will be crucial in supporting agricultural activities on the entire designated area for food production in Galana.
Expansion of Galana Kulalu
Al Dahra Group LLC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at State House Kenya with National Irrigation Authority and Agricultural Development Corporation witnessed by Cabinet Secretary, Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Eng. Eric Mugaa in the presence of His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, PhD., C.G.H. President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-In-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
The agreement aims to expand the Galana-Kulalu irrigation project, potentially adding up to 200,000 acres. This initiative is driven by the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and will bring innovative agricultural practices and create vital irrigation infrastructure, boost agricultural production to enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and contribute to the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda.
Benefits of the Project
The project is expected to:
Promote growth of agro-based industries by providing a reliable and steady supply of raw materials.
- Contribute to improved food security in the country.
- Improve income levels of the local population thereby improving their socio- economic well-being.
- Create employment opportunities and empowerment to youth and women.
- Promote growth of agro-based industries by providing a reliable and steady supply of raw materials.
