Kenya aims to halt rice imports by 2032, pending the completion of ongoing irrigation projects, Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho has announced. The country currently faces an annual rice deficit of 770,000 metric tonnes, leading to imports worth approximately $300 million (Sh38.83 billion) each year.
To bridge this gap, the government is expanding irrigation capacity, including the recently completed Thiba Dam, which has increased local rice production from 190,000 to 270,000 metric tonnes. The commissioning of the Bura Irrigation Project this week is expected to save taxpayers Sh120 million annually.
Additionally, Kenya is advancing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, such as the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, where a private investor will begin farming on 5,400 acres in April 2025. The Galana Dam will expand this to 200,000 acres, with major agribusiness investors like Al Dahra Group expressing interest.
Despite progress, funding remains a challenge. The State Department of Irrigation requires Sh50.75 billion for the 2025/26 financial year but has only been allocated Sh18.863 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh31.886 billion. The government plans to rehabilitate 18,500 acres in Bura, complete the Mwache Dam by 2027, and enhance irrigation infrastructure nationwide to boost food security and reduce reliance on imports.
