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The Baricho Bridge in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County which a multi-agency government team inspected on Thursday March 26, 2026. The bridge that connects Magarini and Malindi sub counties is more than 99 percent complete and is regarded as a key enabler for the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.
The Baricho Bridge in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County which a multi-agency government team inspected on Thursday March 26, 2026. The bridge that connects Magarini and Malindi sub counties is more than 99 percent complete and is regarded as a key enabler for the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.
Head of Government Delivery Unit Sitali Olando (right) and Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha (centre) lead multi-agency team on an inspection and verification tour of critical infrastructure within the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project on Thursday 20th March, 2026.

Government now pushes contractors to fast-track Galana Kulalu infrastructure

News / Tue, 04/07/2026 - 13:02
EMMANUEL MASHA-KNA

The Government has directed contractors working on multi-billion-shilling critical infrastructure components of the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project to fast-track their work to ensure the successful rollout of the country’s food security initiative.

Officials from the Government Delivery Unit (GDU) and the Coast Regional National Government Development Implementation, Communication and Monitoring Committee (NGD-RICMC) noted that several projects were lagging behind schedule and urged contractors to accelerate their completion.

Particular concern was raised over the Sh2.9 billion Galana Kulalu Electrification project, which is significantly delayed. The contractor was instructed to expedite works, with a stern warning that no further extensions of the contract would be granted.

Led by Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha and GDU Director General Sitati Olando, the inspection team toured key projects including the Sh1.49 billion Galana Bridge, the electrification project, the Sh2.3 billion Baricho Bridge, and the Sh650 million Baricho Water Works Solarisation Project.

Despite the delays, the team expressed satisfaction with the overall progress and expressed optimism that works on the key enabler projects would be completed soon to enable investors and other stakeholders to work with ease in realizing the full potential of the irrigation venture.

“Overall, we are happy with what we have seen today. We have agreed on the way forward regarding the bottlenecks we witnessed, and I am confident that when we return in two months, the projects will be much further along and nearing completion,” Ms Onyancha told journalists after the tour.

The Head of the Government Delivery Unit, Mr. Sitati Olando, asked government agencies involved in the project to work in collaboration under regional and county commissioners in order to move forward.

He however told contractors to expedite their works, warning that the government would not extend their contracts.

“For those contractors who are not diligent, we continue to remind them that we shall continue pressuring the government agencies to push them to complete their works or lose their contracts,” he said.

He said the government had identified investors who would start projects towards the Tana River side of the project.

“This project started in Kilifi County but we have identified investors who will open up at least 100,000 acres towards the Tana River side,” Mr. Olando said.