Kenya to Import 25 Million Bags of Maize as Government Moves to Protect Food Security

By Agricoop News

The Government of Kenya plans to import 25 million 90-kilogram bags of maize to bridge an anticipated national supply deficit and protect consumers from potential food shortages following reduced production in several major maize-growing regions.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Senator Mutahi Kagwe said arrangements for the imports are already underway, assuring Kenyans that the Government has measures in place to maintain adequate food supplies despite the effects of drought and other climate-related challenges.

“We will import maize. We have already made arrangements for that. We will manage the country. The country is not going to go hungry,” Kagwe said.

Kenya consumes approximately 75 million bags of maize annually. However, lower-than-expected harvests in some food-producing regions are projected to create a deficit of about 25 million bags, prompting the Government to turn to strategic imports to stabilize supply and cushion consumers against possible price increases.

Government eyes long-term food security

While the planned imports are intended to address the immediate supply gap, Kagwe said the Government is also pursuing longer-term measures to strengthen domestic food production and reduce Kenya's vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

One of the key interventions is the expansion of irrigation, including projects such as the Galana Kulalu scheme, which is expected to increase agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on rain-fed farming.

The Government also plans to work with the National Treasury to review taxes and address bureaucratic challenges affecting farmers and agribusinesses.

According to Kagwe, creating a more competitive business environment is critical to improving agricultural profitability and encouraging greater investment across the sector.

Youth at the centre of AgriConnect

Beyond food security, youth employment emerged as a major focus during the Fifth Joint Consultative Meeting of County Executive Committee Members, where the Ministry launched consultations for the upcoming AgriConnect Compact Programme.

Kagwe said the programme has the potential to create thousands of jobs by positioning agriculture as a modern, technology-driven and commercially viable sector.

The meeting brought together representatives from the national and county governments and the World Bank Group to review progress under the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Both programmes are expected to transition into the AgriConnect Compact Programme.

The new programme will be built around three major pillars: increasing agricultural productivity, promoting value addition and creating sustainable employment through agribusiness.

Kagwe emphasized that agriculture should no longer be viewed simply as a means of subsistence, but as a pathway to wealth creation, investment and employment, particularly for young people.

Technology and value addition

The AgriConnect programme is also expected to accelerate the digitization of agriculture, promote the adoption of artificial intelligence and encourage the use of modern farming technologies.

The Government believes these technologies can help improve productivity while making agriculture more attractive to a younger, digitally connected generation.

The consultative meeting also gave stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to the development of a roadmap that will guide implementation of AgriConnect and inform future agricultural policies.

Kagwe was accompanied by senior government officials and county leaders, including PS Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul, Governors Kenneth Makelo Lusaka of Bungoma, Benjamin Cheboi of Baringo, Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta, Simon Kachapin of West Pokot, Ali Mohamed of Marsabit, Nathif J. Adam of Garissa and Ochillo Ayacko, alongside World Bank Group representative Ghada Elabed.

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Agriculture faces a dual challenge

Kenya's planned maize imports highlight the immediate challenge of maintaining food supplies while the country works to build a more resilient agricultural system.

For farmers and agribusinesses, the Government's focus on irrigation, value addition, technology and youth participation could create new opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

The success of the AgriConnect programme, however, will depend on how effectively national and county governments, development partners, farmers and private-sector players translate the programme's priorities into practical investments and opportunities on the ground.

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