The Galana–Kulalu Bridge linking Kilifi and Tana River counties is now 90 per cent complete, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has announced, marking another major milestone under the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The remaining works are focused on the bridge deck, with an average of 120 workers currently on site, highlighting the project’s contribution to local job creation.
The 200-metre bridge, which crosses the Galana River, is expected to significantly improve access and transport between the two counties. Once operational, it will eliminate long detours that motorists previously made via the Baricho Bridge, easing congestion and cutting transport costs while improving connectivity for communities on both sides of the river.
PS Omollo noted that the bridge will serve as a vital link between the Galana–Kulalu Food Security Project and the Malindi–Sala Gate Road. This connection is expected to enhance the smooth movement of agricultural inputs to farms and facilitate faster delivery of produce to markets, strengthening food supply chains in the coastal and lower eastern regions.
The bridge is a critical component of the revitalised Galana–Kulalu Food Security Project, a flagship programme launched by President William Ruto on January 4, 2023. The initiative is designed to unlock the vast agricultural potential of the Galana–Kulalu irrigation scheme, create employment opportunities and contribute to national food security.
Beyond infrastructure, PS Omollo credited the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration for efficiently coordinating project implementation. He said the ministry has provided essential security surveillance, ensured uninterrupted construction, and helped link local communities to government services, employment opportunities and broader national development efforts.
The Galana–Kulalu Bridge mirrors the wider role of the State in acting as a connector—much like the bridge itself—between citizens and opportunity. By improving security oversight and coordination, the government has created an enabling environment for development projects to progress smoothly and deliver tangible benefits to wananchi.
The project also reflects the broader delivery of the BETA plan across the country, with ongoing investments in roads, affordable housing, modern markets, dams, bridges and other critical infrastructure. These projects are aimed at stimulating economic activity from the grassroots, lowering the cost of living and creating sustainable jobs.
President Ruto has repeatedly emphasised that these investments demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the promises made in the 2022 Kenya Kwanza manifesto. By prioritising agriculture, job creation, affordable credit and universal healthcare, the government says it is steadily translating policy pledges into visible results on the ground, with the near-complete Galana–Kulalu Bridge standing as a symbol of that progress.
