Kenya signed a Ksh40 billion deal to build the Galana Kulalu Dam. This major irrigation project aims to boost national food security and change farming in the coastal area.
The dam will rise in Tana River and Kilifi counties. It will water up to 300,000 acres of land. Farmers will shift from relying on rain to steady irrigation on a large scale.
President William Ruto praised the agreement right after its signing in Nairobi. National Irrigation Authority CEO Charles Muasya and China Communications Construction Company Kenya Ltd Deputy General Manager Du Shan put pen to paper on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Ruto said the deal will steady food prices. It will also cut imports and grow exports. Plus, it boosts food processing and creates jobs for youth. All this drives growth that includes everyone.
The project will raise farm output in a key spot for the nation’s food needs.
The National Irrigation Authority and the China firm inked the pact. It handles design, building, funding for the dam, and a wide water system for nearby farms.
The dam will store 305 million cubic meters of water. It will supply one billion cubic meters each year for irrigation and other needs. Beyond farms, it brings clean drinking water to 70,000 homes. This lifts health, living conditions, and dignity in local communities.
Kenya and the United Arab Emirates fund it together. The China firm partners on the work. Kenya’s share comes from the National Infrastructure Fund. Profits follow a Water Purchase Agreement set in national law.
