Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has unveiled major agricultural reforms designed to maximize Kenya’s farming capacity.
Key among them is the transformation of Galana Kulalu into a Special Economic Zone, the creation of a streamlined land investment office, and expanded private sector involvement in developing underutilized government-owned land.
During his presentation on agricultural modernization, CS Kagwe explained that granting SEZ designation to Galana Kulalu will provide appealing investment conditions, draw international agricultural businesses, and speed up processing activities for oils, grains, produce, livestock and commercial crops.
This special status will deliver tax advantages, streamlined regulatory procedures, and improved infrastructure backing for businesses operating in the area.
The Cabinet Secretary also disclosed plans to broaden the Land Commercialization Initiative beyond its current scope to encompass unused county land, correctional facility farms, and property held by various government entities, guaranteeing that all public landholdings support the nation’s food production, manufacturing sector and employment generation.
“We cannot justify having idle land while importing food,” Kagwe stated. “Every county must identify productive land, and we’ll collaborate with private partners to maximize its potential.”
To eliminate administrative obstacles that have traditionally hindered agricultural investment, the Ministry has created a One-Stop LCI Office that brings together all authorization procedures. Using this system, CS Kagwe announced that investors can secure land for farming projects within 30 days, significantly boosting Kenya’s appeal as an agricultural investment location.
Kagwe stressed that private sector capital, particularly large-scale projects generating employment, represents the transformative element for Kenya’s agricultural sector. He pointed to Nyumba Group as a prime illustration of investor success under the LCI program. Operating on a 300,000-acre lease, the firm has already committed over $50 million (roughly KSh 7.5 billion) toward farm development and irrigation construction, generating more than 3,000 jobs and driving economic growth along the coast.
Nyumba Group’s achievements include preparing 20,000 acres, large-scale cultivation of oil and food crops, and building dams, waterways, and extensive irrigation networks, proving the effectiveness of the government’s commercialization strategy.
Presently, the Ministry has leased 1.8 million acres to private operators through the LCI program, representing Kenya’s most extensive coordinated land commercialization undertaking. These agreements focus on high-potential areas for oil crops, grain cultivation, horticulture, animal feed, irrigated farming, and agro-industrial operations.
CS Kagwe emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to an outcome-focused land policy that positions Kenya as food self-sufficient, export-ready, and welcoming to committed agricultural investors. “Idle land is no longer acceptable,” he declared. “This program will generate employment, develop industries, bring in capital and safeguard our agricultural prospects.”
