Kenya has reached noticeable progress in achieving national food security, all due to a combination of improved weather conditions, targeted government programmes, and strengthened agricultural production. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reports that Kenya’s long-term goal of ensuring stable food supplies and reducing the cost of essential staples is increasingly within reach due to sustained policy interventions and strategic planning.
At a very recent media engagement in Nairobi, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Dr Andrew Karanja outlined optimistic projections for staple crops, particularly maize, which remains central to Kenyan diets. Based on an acreage of 1.64 million hectares and favourable yields, the ministry estimates that farmers will produce around 75.9 million 50- kg bags of maize during the long rainy season. When full production for the full year is factored in, this figure is expected to reach 94.4 million bags, a strong indicator of improved food availability across the country.
Better weather patterns over the past two growing seasons have contributed to these achievements. After a few years of drought and heavy rainfall that previously determined agricultural productivity, the recent conditions have enabled farmers to cultivate larger areas with greater yield potential. Just as with these improvements, the government’s fertiliser for strong and input supply programmes has played an important role in enhancing crop performance. Subsidised fertiliser prices have fallen from Sh3,500 per 50-kg bag last year to Sh2,500 this season, easing input costs for farmers and encouraging wider adoption of improved practices.
An important component of Kenya’s food security strategy has been the proactive management of strategic reserves. The government directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to purchase one million 90-kg bags of maize at a set price of Sh3,500 per bag for the Strategic Food Reserve. This move aims to buffer against price shocks while guaranteeing farmers a reliable market for their produce. Though there was pressure to raise prices due to market fluctuations, careful analysis ensured that purchases remained sustainable and did not drive up the cost of consumer staples like flour (unga), which currently retails at approximately Sh120 per packet.
Horticulture, which is one of Kenya’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors, shows promising signs of expansion, especially for export-focused crops such as avocado. Meanwhile, the country has achieved self-sufficiency in sugar production, halting imports altogether, along with tea output, which is expected to increase, as incomes are projected to surpass Sh200 billion for the first time. These diverse achievements highlight the benefits of multisectoral coordination in agricultural development.
Additional government efforts extend beyond crop production. Kenya showed longer plans to improve food systems in late 2025 and early 2026. This includes investments in various areas, such as science, technology, and innovation, which focus on resilient agricultural practices, as well as the Agricultural Sector Institutional Capacity Strengthening Plan (ICSP), a five-year initiative aimed at increasing productivity and improving livelihoods. Plant health models and public-private partnerships further demonstrate Kenya’s persistent approach to food security.
Despite these achievements, challenges persist. Issues such as post-harvest losses, uneven market participation by buyers, and infrastructure gaps, including the distance farmers travel to access subsidised fertiliser, remain areas which require attention. One can see that to address these issues, the government has expanded distribution points, taken in agro-dealers, and enhanced support for cooperatives to improve accessibility so farmers can have easy access across regions.
Kenya shows how strategic actions, together with favourable weather and targeted investments, can significantly enhance and grow a nation’s food security outlook. Even though continued efforts are still needed to maintain progress and address remaining challenges, these recent improvements show an important step in Kenya’s long-term agricultural transformation.
