Irrigation canals at Galana Kulalu now stand at the centre of Kenya’s renewed push for large-scale commercial farming. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
The government’s latest move to gazette Galana Kulalu as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) marks the most aggressive attempt yet to revive a project long marred by failure, controversy, and stalled ambitions. Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe says the designation will unlock global investors, fast-track agricultural production, and restore confidence in Kenya’s food security agenda. But behind the optimism lies a deeper story about power, land control, and the country’s push to commercialise millions of acres at unprecedented scale.
The SEZ status promises tax breaks, simplified approvals, and large-scale infrastructure support. Officials argue that this will finally attract serious agribusiness players after years of wasted investment and public criticism. Yet the sudden speed raises questions about oversight, land governance, and who ultimately benefits from the transformation of one of Kenya’s most contentious agricultural sites.
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The one-stop office that changes everything
CS Kagwe revealed that a new single-window Land Commercialisation Initiative (LCI) Office will process all approvals within a month. This is a radical break from years of slow bureaucratic systems that frustrated investors and sparked corruption allegations. Critics say the fast-tracking model could improve efficiency, but also risks reducing scrutiny over deals involving vast tracts of public land.
The government maintains that Kenya “cannot afford idle land” while importing food. Counties and state institutions have now been instructed to surrender underutilised land for commercial farming. However, civil society groups and local communities have historically challenged similar proposals, arguing that the term idle often masks unresolved disputes, unrecognised settlements, and unmeasured social impact.
Nyumba Group’s rising influence
Nyumba Group stands out as the flagship investor under LCI—leasing an enormous 300,000 acres and injecting over $50 million into irrigation systems, land opening, and edible oil crop production. Their work has created more than 3,000 jobs, boosting the coastal economy. But the sheer scale of the land they control highlights concerns about investor dominance and the government’s shift toward corporate-led food production.
Other major agribusiness players allocated land at Galana Kulalu include Selu Farm Limited, Bayer Crop Science, Yara, and Irrico International. This cluster of powerful firms signals a turning point in Kenya’s agricultural policy—one that leans heavily on external capital, technology, and private-sector efficiencies to deliver food security. For supporters, this is long overdue. For skeptics, it risks sidelining smallholder farmers who produce over 70 percent of the country’s food.
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The biggest land commercialisation effort in Kenya’s history
The LCI framework seeks to lease 1.8 million acres of public land to private investors. This scale has never been attempted before. The Ministry says the land will be used for edible oils, cereals, livestock feed, horticulture, irrigated agriculture, and agro-industrial hubs. Yet the lack of publicly available contracts, environmental assessments, and community consultation reports leaves key gaps in transparency.
Promise versus reality
CS Kagwe insists the initiative will make Kenya food secure, globally competitive and attractive to investors. He says the era of idle land is over and the commercialisation drive will create industries, jobs, and a new agricultural frontier. Still, past experience with Galana Kulalu—where billions were sunk with little to show—remains a haunting reminder of how grand visions can collapse under weak oversight.
Whether the SEZ declaration transforms Galana Kulalu or becomes another chapter in a troubled history depends on implementation, transparency, and community engagement. For now, Kenya’s push for large-scale agriculture is accelerating at a pace not seen before, and the world is watching how the country navigates the balance between investment, accountability, and food security.
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