The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has unveiled major reforms aimed at repositioning Kenya’s large-scale farming sector. Among the headline measures are the gazettement of Galana Kulalu as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the establishment of a One-Stop Land Commercialization Office, and the accelerated engagement of private investors to unlock idle public land nationwide.
Speaking during a briefing on ongoing agricultural transformation efforts, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said designating Galana Kulalu as an SEZ will offer strong investment incentives, attract leading global agribusiness firms, and fast-track value addition in edible oils, cereals, horticulture, livestock, and industrial crops.
The SEZ status will also provide tax advantages, streamlined regulatory approvals, and improved infrastructure support for investors operating within the expansive project area.
Kagwe further announced the expansion of the Land Commercialization Initiative (LCI) to cover idle land in counties, prison farms, and other government institutions, ensuring all public land contributes to national food security, manufacturing growth, and job creation.
“Kenya cannot afford idle land while we are importing food,” Kagwe said. “All counties must bring forward land that can be productive, and we will partner with private investors to unlock its full value.”
To eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically slowed agricultural investments, the Ministry has operationalized a One-Stop LCI Office that consolidates all approval processes. Through this new structure, investors will now be able to secure land for agricultural ventures within one month—significantly boosting Kenya’s competitiveness as an agri-investment destination.
Kagwe underscored that private-sector participation—particularly capital-intensive ventures that generate jobs—will be central to transforming the country’s agricultural future. He cited Nyumba Group as a model investor under the LCI framework.
The company, which has been leased 300,000 acres, has already invested over USD 50 million (approximately KSh 7.5 billion) in farm development and irrigation infrastructure, creating more than 3,000 jobs and stimulating economic growth in the coastal region.
Nyumba Group’s progress includes opening and preparing 20,000 acres for cultivation, large-scale production of edible oil crops and food crops, and the installation of dams, canals, and extensive irrigation systems—demonstrating the practical impact of the Government’s commercialization drive.
Currently, the Ministry is leasing 1.8 million acres to private investors under the LCI, marking the largest coordinated land commercialization programme in Kenya’s history.
These leases focus on high-potential zones for edible oil crops, cereal production, horticulture, livestock feed, irrigated farming, and agro-industrial development.
