Kenya Allocates 180,000 Acres in Galana Kulalu to Abu Dhabi’s Al Dahra for Large-Scale Farming
Public-Private Partnership to Drive Agricultural Expansion and Food Security
The Kenyan government has granted 180,000 acres within the Galana Kulalu Block to Al Dahra, an agricultural firm based in Abu Dhabi, to spearhead extensive farming activities under the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project. This move aims to significantly enhance the country’s agricultural output.
On August 8, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Al Dahra, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), and the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC). The agreement initiates feasibility studies for developing the allocated land into diverse agricultural ventures, including fodder and meat production.
The project is supported by a planned private sector investment of Ksh12.5 billion, which will fund the construction of storage facilities, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, and development of internal farm roads to facilitate efficient transport of goods and inputs within and beyond the project area.
A key component of the initiative is a proposed dam with a capacity of 306 million cubic meters, designed to supply gravity-fed irrigation to 200,000 acres through approximately 60 kilometers of canals, according to the National Treasury.
During a visit to the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, accompanied by Kefa Seda, Director-General of the Public-Private Partnership Directorate, and hosted by PS for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho, emphasized the potential of the Galana Kulalu block. Kiptoo noted that the entire block encompasses 1.5 million acres suitable for irrigation, which, if fully utilized, could boost farm incomes, increase foreign exchange earnings, and create thousands of jobs for youth, aligning with the government’s inclusive economic growth agenda.
Kiptoo highlighted the importance of the public-private partnership (PPP) model in realizing this vision, explaining that collaboration with Al Dahra enables the government to leverage private capital while delivering essential agricultural infrastructure.
Founded in 1995, Al Dahra operates over 400,000 acres worldwide, with farming activities spanning the UAE, Egypt, Romania, Serbia, the USA, Namibia, and Morocco. The company specializes in producing a variety of crops such as rice, maize, fruits, and vegetables, alongside animal feed production.
The National Treasury anticipates that this partnership will introduce advanced farming technologies, diversify agricultural value chains, and reinforce Kenya’s status as a leading food producer in the region.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has also underscored the government’s commitment to expanding agricultural productivity through strategic collaborations, as highlighted during his address to the Council of Governors in Mombasa on May 15, 2025.
