President William Ruto has announced the signing of a landmark KSh40 billion contract for the construction of the Galana Kulalu Dam, describing the project as a bold and transformative step in Kenya’s journey towards food security and large-scale irrigation.
According to the President, the dam will significantly strengthen national food production by enabling the irrigation of up to 300,000 acres of land at Galana Kulalu, spanning Tana River and Kilifi counties. He said the project marks a decisive shift from dependence on rain-fed agriculture to reliable, sustainable, and large-scale irrigation farming.
The agreement was signed between the National Irrigation Authority and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd, and covers the engineering design, construction, and financing of the dam as well as its irrigation water conveyance system.
Once completed, the Galana Kulalu 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 for irrigation and other uses. In addition to supporting agriculture, the project will provide safe drinking water to at least 70,000 households in the region, improving public health, sanitation, and the overall quality of life for local communities.
President Ruto noted that increased agricultural productivity from the project will help stabilise food prices, reduce Kenya’s dependence on food imports, boost exports, and expand agro-processing and value addition. He added that the dam will create thousands of jobs for young people, both directly during construction and indirectly through farming, agribusiness, and related value chains.
The President further revealed that the Galana Kulalu Dam is a joint investment project involving the Governments of Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd. The Government of Kenya’s contribution will be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund.
Returns on the investment, Ruto explained, will be facilitated through the Water Purchase Agreement Framework, which is already embedded within Kenya’s legal and policy infrastructure, ensuring sustainability and accountability.
The contract was officially signed in Nairobi by National Irrigation Authority Chief Executive Officer Charles Muasya and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd Deputy General Manager Du Shan.
President Ruto described the project as a cornerstone of Kenya’s long-term food security strategy and inclusive economic growth agenda, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to modernising agriculture and unlocking the country’s vast irrigation potential.
