By MKT Reporter
In a bold move to transform Kenya’s agricultural landscape, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced that Galana Kulalu will be officially gazetted as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), alongside the launch of a One-Stop Land Commercialization Office to fast-track private-sector investment in idle public land.
Speaking at a briefing on the government’s agricultural transformation efforts, CS Kagwe said the SEZ status for Galana Kulalu will provide investors with strong incentives, including tax breaks, simplified approvals, and upgraded infrastructure. The move is expected to attract global agribusiness players and boost value6 addition in edible oils, cereals, horticulture, livestock, and industrial crops.
“Kenya cannot afford idle land while we are importing food,” Kagwe said, emphasizing that all counties must make productive land available. “We will partner with private investors to unlock its full value.”
Under the expanded Land Commercialization Initiative (LCI), the government will now include county land, prison farms, and land under other public institutions. This effort is aimed at ensuring all available public land contributes to national food security, industrial growth, and job creation.
To remove bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically slowed agricultural investment, the Ministry has established a One-Stop LCI Office. This facility consolidates all approval processes, enabling investors to secure land for agricultural ventures within just one month—a move expected to significantly increase Kenya’s appeal as an agri-investment destination.
Private-sector participation remains central to the government’s strategy. Kagwe highlighted Nyumba Group as a success story: the company, which has been leased 300,000 acres, has already invested over USD 50 million (approximately KSh 7.5 billion) in farm development and irrigation infrastructure. The project has created more than 3,000 jobs in the coastal region while preparing 20,000 acres for large-scale edible oil and food crop production, complete with dams, canals, and massive irrigation systems.
Currently, the Ministry is leasing 1.8 million acres under the LCI framework, making it the largest coordinated land commercialization effort in Kenya’s history. The leases target high-potential zones for agro-industrial development, irrigated agriculture, livestock feed, and staple crop production.
CS Kagwe stressed that the government is committed to a results-driven land strategy to ensure Kenya becomes food secure, export-competitive, and an attractive destination for serious agricultural investors. “The era of idle land is over,” he said. “This initiative will create jobs, grow industries, attract capital, and secure our nation’s agricultural future.”
Suleiman Mbatiah