Principal Secretaries have visited the Bura Irrigation Scheme and Galana Kulalu Food Security Project to assess progress in expanding farming through irrigation, as the government seeks to increase food production in areas that receive little rainfall.
The officials toured the two projects in Tana River, Kilifi and the surrounding areas before attending the seventh Principal Secretaries’ Forum of 2026 in Malindi, Kilifi County.
At Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County, the team was taken through the changes brought by a 26-kilometre gravity-fed canal commissioned by President William Ruto in 2025.
The canal has increased the area under irrigation from 6,000 to 12,000 acres, allowing more farmers to access water for their crops.
Farmers are now able to grow rice and maize and plan for more than one planting season instead of relying entirely on rainfall.
The government is also looking at expanding the scheme further to bring more land under irrigation, create jobs and improve incomes for households in the area.
The officials also visited the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, which covers parts of Kilifi and Tana River counties.
The project is intended to support large-scale crop production, particularly maize and soya beans, through modern irrigation systems and private-sector investment.
Water for irrigation is drawn from River Galana, with investments targeting water storage and distribution infrastructure as well as solar-powered irrigation.
Another major component is the proposed Galana Dam, which is expected to support irrigation of up to 200,000 acres once developed.
The visits gave the Principal Secretaries an opportunity to assess the progress of the projects and the infrastructure being put in place to support farming in the two areas.
The government is seeking to increase agricultural production in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where farmers have often depended on unreliable rainfall.
Apart from increasing the amount of food produced locally, the two projects are expected to support agro-processing, attract private investors and create employment opportunities in the coastal region.
Irrigation is also expected to allow farmers to grow crops throughout the year, rather than wait for the rainy seasons to plant.