Nairobi, Kenya – In a landmark agricultural deal, the Kenyan government has signed an agreement with UAE-based Al Dahra to develop 180,000 acres of the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project into a large-scale farming enterprise.
Table of Contents
🔹 Key Details of the Deal
📌 Land Allocation: 180,000 acres (part of the 1.5M-acre Galana Kulalu irrigation project).
📌 Partners: Al Dahra (UAE agribusiness giant), National Irrigation Authority (NIA), and Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC).
📌 Investment: KSh 12.5B from private firm SELU Ltd for storage, irrigation, and farm roads.
📌 Infrastructure Plans:
- 306M m³ dam (gravity-fed irrigation for 200,000 acres).
- 60km canal network to distribute water.
🔹 Project Goals
✅ Boost Food Production – Target: 1.4M bags of maize/year (Phase 1: 20,000 acres).
✅ Create Jobs – Thousands of rural employment opportunities expected.
✅ Diversify Agriculture – Fodder, meat value chains, and modern farming tech.
🔹 Why This Matters
🌾 Food Security – Reduces reliance on rain-fed farming, stabilizes crop yields.
💰 Economic Growth – Aims to raise farm incomes and boost forex earnings.
🤝 PPP Model Success – Private sector fills funding gaps for critical infrastructure.
💬 Government’s Perspective
“Kenya cannot rely solely on public financing. PPPs are a sustainable pathway.”
– Dr. Chris Kiptoo, Treasury PS
“Galana Kulalu could transform Kenya into a regional food powerhouse.”
– National Treasury report
⚠️ Concerns & Questions
❓ Land Use & Local Impact – Will small-scale farmers benefit or be displaced?
❓ Foreign Ownership – Long-term implications of UAE firm controlling vast Kenyan land.
❓ Water Management – Can the proposed dam sustainably support 200K acres?
📅 Next Steps
1️⃣ Feasibility studies (fodder, meat value chains).
2️⃣ Dam & canal construction (timeline TBD).
3️⃣ Phase 1 rollout (20K acres under irrigation).
🗣️ Public Reaction
“Great move if it creates jobs and lowers food prices!” – @AgriKenya
“Who really benefits? We’ve seen big farms fail before.” – @MkulimaCritic
YOUR TAKE?
Is this a win for Kenya or a risky land giveaway?
Comment below!
📌 Why This Deal is Significant
✔ Huge scale – Could be Kenya’s biggest irrigation project yet.
✔ Tech transfer – Al Dahra brings modern farming expertise.
✔ Economic shift – Signals Kenya’s push for commercial agriculture.
