Kenya's Food Security Efforts
Kenya Announces 25 Million Maize Imports to Counter Drought-Driven Shortfall and Stabilize Food Supply
Key Points
Wheat price increase for 2026: The government approved a producer price of Ksh5,100 per 90-kilogram bag for locally produced wheat for the 2026 season, up from Ksh4,750 last year, aimed at improving farmers' incomes and benefiting more than 2,000 wheat farmers across counties including Narok, Nakuru, Meru, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Uasin Gishu.
AgriConnect Compact Programme and youth employment focus: At the Fifth Joint Consultative Meeting of County Executive Committee Members, the Ministry launched consultations for the upcoming AgriConnect Compact Programme, with youth employment identified as a key priority for transforming agriculture into a youthful, investment-friendly sector.
NAVCDP and FSRP progress reviewed with World Bank: A joint consultative meeting involving the World Bank and county governments reviewed progress on the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), signaling strengthened international collaboration.
Maize import quantity translated into kilograms: The plan to import 25 million bags of maize (90 kg each) amounts to roughly 2.25–2.3 billion kilograms of maize to cushion the country against drought-driven shortages.
Kenya plans to import 25 million 90-kilogram bags of maize — roughly 2.25 billion kilograms — to plug a drought-driven food gap, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced. The import volume matches the projected national shortfall almost exactly, according to Nairobi Leo.
Kagwe moved to calm public fears, assuring Kenyans that "the country will not go hungry." The imports are meant as a short-term fix while the government pursues deeper reforms to cut reliance on rainfall and reduce vulnerability to climate shocks, Radio47 reported.
Drought Leaves a 25 Million Bag Hole in Supplies
Poor rains hit key maize-growing regions hard this season. The result is a projected 25 million-bag deficit — a gap big enough to trigger government intervention at a scale rarely seen. The Kenya Times reported that reduced production in major farming areas drove the decision to fast-track imports.
Each bag weighs 90 kilograms. Multiply that by 25 million and Kenya needs to source over 2.25 billion kilograms of maize from foreign markets. Sacco Review warned that the shortfall, if unaddressed, could push maize prices higher and squeeze consumers.
Wheat Farmers Get a Price Boost for 2026 Season
Beyond maize, the government approved a new producer price for locally grown wheat. Farmers will receive Ksh5,100 per 90-kilogram bag in the 2026 season, up from Ksh4,750 last year — a rise of Ksh350 per bag. The increase targets more than 2,000 wheat farmers, Nairobi Leo noted.
Counties set to benefit include Narok, Nakuru, Meru, Laikipia, Nyandarua, and Uasin Gishu. The price hike is designed to make local wheat farming more profitable and encourage higher output, reducing the country's dependence on imports over time.
Irrigation Projects and World Bank Deals Target Long-Term Fixes
Kagwe pointed to the Galana Kulalu irrigation project as a central pillar of long-term food security. The government also held talks with county leaders and the World Bank to review progress on two major programs: the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), according to Radio47.
Both programs aim to make Kenya's food system more resilient against future climate shocks. The government also pledged to work with the National Treasury to simplify taxes and cut red tape for farmers and agribusinesses, The Kenya Times reported.
AgriConnect Plan Bets on Youth to Transform Farming
At the Fifth Joint Consultative Meeting of County Executive Committee Members, Kenya's agriculture ministry launched talks on a new AgriConnect Compact Programme. Youth employment sits at the heart of the plan. The goal is to make farming feel like a modern, investment-ready career — not a last resort, Sacco Review reported.
Kagwe framed the shift as essential. Kenya cannot fix its food system, he argued, without pulling young people into agriculture. The joint meetings with county governments signal a coordinated push — from emergency imports today to a more self-sufficient food sector tomorrow.
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