Kenya has announced major agricultural-sector reforms aimed at boosting productivity and attracting large-scale investment, including listing Galana Kulalu as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and establishing a One-Stop Land Commercialization Office that will consolidate all services related to accessing land for large-scale farming.
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, stated that designating Galana Kulalu as an SEZ will offer significant benefits to investors, including reduced taxes, faster approval processes, and improved infrastructure support. These incentives are expected to attract global agribusiness companies focusing on edible oil crops, cereals, horticulture, livestock, and industrial crops.
CS Kagwe further announced that the Land Commercialization Initiative (LCI) will be expanded to include county land, prison farms, and other underutilized public land. He said, “Kenya cannot allow its land to remain idle while the country faces food shortages.”
To eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down agricultural investment, the government has launched a One-Stop LCI Office that will streamline all approval processes, allowing investors to secure agricultural land within less than one month. This improvement is expected to enhance Kenya’s competitiveness in attracting new agribusiness investors.
The CS emphasized that private-sector investment is the foundation of Kenya’s agricultural future, citing Nyumba Group as a leading example. Nyumba Group was allocated approximately 300,000 hectares and has already invested $50 million (about KSh 7.5 billion), creating more than 3,000 jobs in the Coast region. The company has prepared 20,000 hectares for large-scale production of edible oil crops and food crops, and has constructed dams, canals, and extensive irrigation systems.
Currently, the Ministry is leasing approximately 1.8 million acres of land to investors, marking the largest land commercialization effort in Kenya’s history under the LCI framework. The leased land targets increased production of edible oils, cereals, horticultural crops, livestock feed, and agro-industrial development.
CS Kagwe emphasized that the initiative will help Kenya become food secure, attract investment, expand agro-industries, create jobs, and strengthen the national economy. He concluded, “The era of idle land is over.”
