By MKT Reporter
A KSh40 billion food security project deal was signed yesterday.
President William Ruto announced the signing of the contract for the construction of the Galana Kulalu Dam after completion of the exercise the concerned parties.
This is a major milestone that is expected to revitalise Kenya’s long-stalled Galana Kulalu Food Security Project and significantly boost national food production.
The project, to be undertaken by China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd in partnership with the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) will enable irrigation of up to 300,000 acres of land in Tana River and Kilifi counties.
Once completed, the dam will mark a decisive shift from rain-fed agriculture to large-scale, reliable irrigation, a key pillar of the government’s food security strategy.
The agreement covers the engineering, construction and financing of the dam and its associated irrigation water conveyance system.
The dam will have a storage capacity of 305 million cubic metres of water and is expected to deliver up to one billion cubic metres annually to support irrigation and domestic use.
In addition to boosting agricultural production, the project will supply clean drinking water to about 70,000 households in the surrounding communities, improving public health and living standards.
“The Galana Kulalu Dam is a bold step towards stabilising food prices, reducing imports and expanding exports,” President Ruto said in a statement.
He added that increased agricultural output would support agro-processing and value addition, creating thousands of jobs, particularly for young people, and driving inclusive economic growth.
The dam is a joint investment between the Governments of Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, alongside China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd.
Kenya’s contribution will be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund, with returns expected under an existing Water Purchase Agreement framework anchored in the country’s legal infrastructure.
The agreement was signed in Nairobi by National Irrigation Authority Chief Executive Officer Charles Muasya and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd Deputy General Manager Du Shan.
The Galana Kulalu Food Security Project was first launched over a decade ago as one of Kenya’s flagship programmes aimed at addressing chronic food shortages and reducing dependence on rain-fed farming. Despite its vast potential, the project has faced delays, scaling back and criticism over costs, management challenges and limited initial output.
At full scale, Galana Kulalu is envisioned to utilise more than one million acres of land, positioning Kenya as a regional food basket. Successive administrations have sought to revive and restructure the project, citing its strategic importance in the face of climate change, recurrent droughts and rising food imports.
The signing of the dam contract is expected to inject new momentum into the project, with the government expressing confidence that the infrastructure will unlock the long-term agricultural potential of the Galana Kulalu basin and strengthen the country’s food security.
John Kariuki 
Suleiman Mbatiah