Kenya signs US$250M irrigation contract with Chinese firm for Galana Kulalu
The project directly supports government efforts to stabilise food supply and reduce household food costs.
KENYA – Kenya has signed a KSh40 billion (US$ 250 million) engineering, procurement, construction and financing contract with China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) for the Galana Kulalu (Athi) Dam, a flagship irrigation project targeting large-scale agricultural development in Tana River and Kilifi counties.
The agreement places the Chinese firm at the centre of one of Kenya’s most ambitious irrigation investments under its national food security programme.
The contract was executed by Eng. Charles Muasya, Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), and Ms. Du Shan, Deputy General Manager of CCCC Kenya, formally triggering the implementation phase of the Athi Dam and its associated irrigation water conveyance system.
The project is designed to shift production in the coastal region from rain-fed agriculture to controlled irrigation.
In a statement issued after the signing, NIA said the project directly supports government efforts to stabilise food supply and reduce household food costs.
“Today’s contract signing signifies a direct response to the Government’s commitment to lowering the cost of living and achieving national food security by transitioning from rain-fed to irrigation-based agriculture,” NIA noted.
The Athi Dam will be developed as a large reservoir with a storage capacity of 305 million cubic metres. NIA said the infrastructure is expected to deliver an annual average of one billion cubic metres of water, sufficient to irrigate up to 300,000 acres for at least two cropping seasons each year.
This level of water availability is expected to support sustained production of cereals, horticultural crops and fodder, strengthening downstream value chains in milling, food processing and livestock production.
“Designed as a massive reservoir with a capacity of 305 million cubic metres, the dam is expected to deliver an annual average of one billion cubic metres of water, enabling the irrigation of up to 300,000 acres for at least two cropping seasons each year,” the authority added.
Following the contract signing, technical teams have been authorised to establish a base within the 1.75 million-acre Galana and Kulalu ranches.
These teams will begin detailed technical assessments, site preparation and construction activities aimed at optimising use of the Athi/Galana River system.
In addition to irrigation, the project includes a domestic water supply component expected to provide safe drinking water to more than 70,000 people.
NIA said the dam aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), supporting infrastructure linked to energy access, sanitation and healthcare.
The authority said the Athi Dam is expected to anchor the development of an agri-industrial zone along the coast, supported by roads, power and logistics networks, as well as modern processing facilities.
“By reducing post-harvest losses and aggregating production, the project will catalyze manufacturing through value addition while supporting social infrastructure including schools, housing and health centres,” NIA noted.
Once completed, the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project is expected to create thousands of jobs, expand agri-processing capacity and increase crop, livestock and fish output, reinforcing Kenya’s long-term food security position.
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