Galana Kulalu to be gazetted as SEZ as Kenya moves to unlock idle public land

KENYA – The Kenyan government has unveiled a new phase of agricultural reforms anchored on the gazettement of Galana Kulalu as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the creation of a One-Stop Land Commercialization Office to attract large-scale investment into food production.

Speaking during a briefing on the country’s agricultural transformation efforts, CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe said Galana Kulalu’s SEZ designation will provide strong investment incentives for global and local agribusiness players and fast-track value addition in edible oils, cereals, horticulture, livestock, and industrial crops.

The SEZ status will extend tax benefits, streamlined approvals, and improved infrastructure to enterprises working within the expansive agricultural block, positioning Galana Kulalu as a competitive hub for agro-industrial growth.

The announcement comes at a time when Kenya continues to rely heavily on imported food commodities such as wheat, rice, edible oils, and livestock feed.

Government reports have consistently cited underutilized public land as a limiting factor for domestic production.

Kagwe emphasized that the new reforms are aimed at reversing that trend by ensuring that state-owned land drives food security and industrialization.

The CS revealed that the Land Commercialization Initiative (LCI) will now be expanded beyond Galana Kulalu to include idle land in counties, prison farms, and other government institutions.

 “Kenya cannot afford idle land while we are importing food. All counties must bring forward land that can be productive, and we will partner with private investors to unlock its full value,” Kagwe said.

To reduce the bureaucratic inefficiencies that have long slowed agricultural investment, the Ministry has established a One-Stop LCI Office consolidating all approval processes.

Through this mechanism, CS Kagwe confirmed that investors will be able to acquire land for agricultural ventures within a month, a move expected to dramatically increase Kenya’s competitiveness as an agri-investment destination.

Kagwe highlighted Nyumba Group as an emerging case study on what committed investors can achieve under LCI.

The company, leased 300,000 acres, has invested over US$ 50 million in farm development and irrigation systems.

Its activities have created more than 3,000 jobs and opened 20,000 acres for production of edible oil crops and food grains, while installing dams, canals and irrigation networks. The example, according to Kagwe, demonstrates how private sector participation can stimulate rural economies and reduce the country’s vegetable oil import bill.

Government data shows that 1.8 million acres are currently under lease to investors through the LCI programme, making it Kenya’s largest coordinated land commercialization effort.

These leases target priority agricultural zones suited to edible oils, cereal farming, livestock feed production, irrigated agriculture, and agro-industrial development.

Kagwe reaffirmed that the Ministry’s land strategy will remain performance-based, rooted in measurable output, jobs, and value addition. “The era of idle land is over. This initiative will create jobs, grow industries, attract capital and secure our nation’s agricultural future,” he said.

The state-owned Food Security Project has faced numerous challenges since its inception in 2015, including delays and the termination of a contractor in 2019.

However, the government has made strides in reviving it over the years.  Early this year, the government inked a US$800 million (KES103 billion) deal with Al Dahra, an Abu Dhabi-based agribusiness firm, to expand the Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Project.

The project has achieved results, with the first maize crop after revival announced this year.

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