GALANA-KULALU — President William Ruto has declared the long-stalled Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme ready to begin operations, promising it will mark a turning point in Kenya’s fight against hunger.
Standing beside newly constructed canals and a vast water reservoir in the arid heart of Kilifi County, Mr Ruto said the government was finally moving from promises to results.
“It’s been years of talk. Now, the work starts,” he told reporters on Friday, during an inspection of the completed infrastructure. “We are putting an end to the shame of hunger in this country.”
The Galana-Kulalu project — once mired in delays and controversy — is a Sh519 million public works effort intended to irrigate tens of thousands of hectares of farmland using water from the Galana River. Its centrepiece is a newly built system that includes a 753-metre inlet canal, a massive reservoir holding 450 million litres of water, and a pumping sump with a 20-million-litre capacity.
Government officials say the infrastructure is undergoing final testing before farming begins next week under a private company contracted to manage the initial phase.
Mr Ruto said the irrigation scheme, developed through a public-private partnership, is central to his plan to increase local food production, cut reliance on imports, and reduce the cost of living for ordinary Kenyans.
“We want this project to grow food, create jobs, and generate surplus for export,” he said.
The President added that part of the land will be used to grow crops for animal feed, supporting livestock farmers in drought-prone regions.
To secure a reliable year-round water supply, Mr Ruto also announced plans to construct a dam upstream on the Galana River. In addition, he toured the nearly completed Galana-Kulalu Bridge and a new access road, designed to ease the transport of fresh produce to local markets and beyond.
He also inspected ongoing work to connect the project to the national electricity grid, a move he said would slash the high fuel costs currently associated with diesel-powered irrigation.
The electrification of the project at a cost of Sh2.9 billion is expected to pave the way for agro-processing facilities and other industries that could emerge around the farming hub.
But Mr Ruto used the moment to deliver a broader political message, calling on leaders to set aside personal ambitions and focus on national development.
“This is not the time for politics,” he said. “That time will come and people will choose leaders based on substance, not insults.”
He assured Kenyans that development would be delivered fairly, regardless of political loyalties.
“No citizen will be left behind because of how they voted. That is their right, and our duty is to serve all equally,” he said.
First launched under President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Galana-Kulalu project had previously stalled amid funding gaps and questions over management. Critics had long questioned its viability and transparency. Now, the Ruto administration says it is determined to prove the doubters wrong.
Still, some agricultural analysts have warned that water availability and community involvement will be key to its success.
“The infrastructure looks promising,” said Leah Wanjiku, a food security specialist based in Nairobi. “But long-term sustainability will depend on how the land is managed, how water is distributed, and whether small-scale farmers are truly part of the model.”
For now, Mr. Ruto appears focused on the bigger picture turning dusty plains into fields of grain and hope.
