Shimo la Tewa MCA Sammy Ndago, Nominated MCA Nuzla Sahib and Sokoni's Gilbert Peru during a press conference. (Photo-Daily Nation)
Kilifi MCAs have passed a motion to stop the national government from doing further investment in the Sh7 billion Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme.
The motion tabled by Adu MCA Stanley Kenga who is also the deputy speaker directs the County Executive Members (CEC) of agriculture and lands to initiate measures that will stop the multi-billion shillings project.
Speaker Jimmy Kahindi approved the motion that blocks farming activities at Galana Kulalu Irrigation after the MCAs anonymously passed the motion.
Galana-Kulalu Irrigation scheme is a Sh7.29 billion government flagship project that covers about one million acres and targets the production 10,000 acres in Kilifi and Tana River Counties.
To date, only 5,000 acres, out of the targeted one million, have been put under crop as work is fast-tracked for completion of the remaining 4,400 acres after installation of five pumps.
Speaking during the interview deputy speaker says the motion also demands the national government to ensure there is public participation in matters of Galana Kulalu Irrigation scheme before the county assembly approves the viability of the project.
While tabling the motion, Mr. Kenga said residents of Kilifi ought to have been involved in initiating the project which has eaten a lot of resources belonging to residents.
“The people ought to have been consulted before initiating the project which violated the Section 114 of the County Government Act, 2013 and part two of the fourth schedule of the Constitution,” he said.
Kakuyuni MCA Nixon Muramba says they have passed the motion to petition CEC member for agriculture and Lands to submit a report on the affairs of Galana Kulalu and their involvement as a county government in the Megaproject that has been viewed as a solution to food security by the Jubilee administration but its surprising to see billions being pumped into the project but no results on the ground terming it as a cash cow to benefit few individuals.
Muramba says over 30 billion shillings have been pumped in the project but ti date Kilifi residents are still starving of hunger despite giving out their land with areas of Ganze Kilifi and Magarini being among the worst hit, Galana river is also drying up downstream following the diversion of the river for irrigation purposes urging NEMA also to tour and assess the damage the project has caused downstream the Galena river.
They are calling on the national government to make public the full audit of the project the food harvested and assess if the project is viable warning that any attempts to privatize the project will be resisted because they are aware this is a scheme by cartels who want to grab the land saying the county government is disturbed because local leaders have never been involved.
The MCA however wonders why the place is heavily guarded restricted even to members of county assembly even the area MCA cannot access the farm which he says even journalist who made attempts to access the farm were beaten up and had to scamper for safety and those who want to tour the farm must seek approval from higher offices raising suspicion.
The MCAs have received support from Magarini Member of parliament Michael Kingi who says Galana Kulalu is just another scheme crafted by land crabbers like the ADC farms within the region that have been taken over with pretense.
Agricultural purposes warning that is the national government is unable to manage the project it should be left to Tana River and Kilifi counties to manage, The MP says he is portioning the parliament to discuss the matter.