Felix Koskei: Kenya to attain food security within three years

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei (in brown hat) with other government officials during an inspection tour of Galana Kulalu Food Security project in Kilifi on Wednesday. [Standard, file]

Kenya aims to attain food security by 2026, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has said.

Speaking during a visit to a maize farm at the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project in Kilifi on Thursday, July 6, Koskei expressed confidence that the project would alleviate food scarcity in the country.

The the Galana Kulalu project was initiated in 2014 with the aim of enhancing food production in the country.

"We are committed to making significant advancements and ensuring sufficient food production, not only for our domestic needs but also for surplus production," stated Koskei.

Koskei was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho, National Irrigation Agency (NIA) CEO Charles Muasya, Coast Regional Commissioner Ms Rodah Onyancha, among other officials.

He highlighted that the project is currently in the pilot stage, covering approximately 1 million acres with 500 acres of maize under cultivation.

He said plans are underway to expand the project to 100,000 acres in the near future and further increase to 200,000 acres as the initiative progresses.

"Within a short span of two to three years, the country will achieve food security, and we may even begin exporting to other nations," he said.

Koskei's assurance comes even as the Global Report on Food Crises 2023 indicates an alarming increase in acute food insecurity in the country.

According to the report, approximately 5.4 million Kenyans are already grappling with a food crisis, the highest number recorded in the history of the region.

The report identifies Kenya and Somalia as the countries experiencing the most significant increases in acute food insecurity since 2021.

Speaking during a roundtable interview with journalists at State House on January 4, 2023, President William Ruto claimed that the Galana Kulalu project was deliberately undermined by influential individuals in the previous government.

 He issued a directive to revive the project, with a focus on maize production.

"I assure the people of Kenya that we are committed to making Galana Kulalu a success, and we will commence operations this February. We have devised a concrete plan to cultivate maize across the initial 10,000 acres, and we possess the necessary mechanisms to accomplish this," said Ruto.