The National Government has issued a warning to contractors about the Galana Kulalu irrigation project, stating that delays in completion will result in penalties.
During an inspection of the project, Olando Sitati, the acting head of the Government Delivery Unit (GDU), highlighted that essential components of the Ksh2.9 billion initiative, particularly its electrification, remain unfinished.
Sitati emphasized that the government will not engage in further contract extensions for contractors who fail to meet their deadlines.
The Coastal Regional Commissioner, Rhoda Onyancha, specified that the contractor must complete the project’s electrification by September of this year.
“We have assessed all factors impeding the project’s progress and established clear responsibilities for all parties involved. By September, we expect the project to be fully operational,” Onyoncha stated.
Sitati also disclosed plans to expand the Galana Kulalu project once the contractor finishes constructing a dam designed to supply water to the initiative.
“We have already secured a contractor for the dam’s construction, and within the next year, upon completion, we will increase the project’s size by 20,000 acres to enhance agricultural development in this county,” Sitati explained.
Galana Kulalu is an extensive irrigation initiative covering 2.9 million acres in Kenya’s coastal region, encompassing the Kilifi and Tana River counties.
The initiative aims to enhance food security through large-scale irrigation, focusing mainly on maize and soybean cultivation.
Last year, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe revealed plans for the project.
In a statement on December 2, Kagwe indicated that the development would create favorable investment opportunities for both international and local agricultural investors, and encourage large-scale production of edible oils, grains, horticultural products, livestock, and industrial crops.
A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a defined area with distinct economic regulations that offer specific incentives to attract investment.
These zones create a business-conducive environment by providing advantages such as tax exemptions, customs duty reductions, and flexible foreign ownership rules, all designed to foster industrialization, increase exports, and generate employment opportunities.