Kenya has signed a Sh40 billion contract for the construction of the Galana Kulalu Dam, a flagship irrigation project expected to significantly boost national food security by opening up 300,000 acres for irrigation in Tana River and Kilifi counties.
National Irrigation Authority Chief Executive Officer Charles Muasya and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd Deputy General Manager Du Shan signed the contract in Nairobi on December 30, 2025.
According to the statement by President William Ruto on his X account, the agreement signed between the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd, covers the engineering, construction, and financing of the dam and its irrigation water conveyance system. The project marks a major policy shift away from dependence on rain-fed agriculture toward reliable, large-scale irrigation.
“The signing of the Sh40 billion contract for the construction of Galana Kulalu Dam will strengthen our food security by irrigating up to 300,000 acres at Galana Kulalu in Tana River and Kilifi counties,” the statement said, describing the project as “a bold step in our transition from rain-fed farming to reliable, large-scale irrigation.”
Once completed, 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. Beyond irrigation, the project will also provide safe drinking water to an estimated 70,000 households, a move expected to improve health outcomes and restore dignity for local communities.
“The project will also supply safe drinking water to 70,000 households, improving health and dignity for local communities,” the statement noted.
The government said the project will have far-reaching economic benefits by strengthening agricultural productivity and stabilising food supplies.
“By strengthening agricultural productivity and food security, we will stabilise food prices, reduce imports, grow exports and expand agro-processing and value addition,” the statement said, adding that the project will create thousands of jobs for young people and support inclusive economic growth.
The Galana Kulalu Dam is a joint investment involving 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 anchored on the Water Purchase Agreement Framework already embedded in the country’s legal system.
In a separate statement, the Authority said that once completed, “the Athi Dam (Galana) and the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project will stand as a cornerstone of Kenya’s agricultural transformation,” optimising crop, livestock and fish production to significantly contribute to national food security.
