TAITA TAVETA, Kenya – President William Ruto has announced that the government will halve the price of maize seed from Sh300 to Sh150 from September 2026 as part of measures to boost food production and strengthen Kenya’s food security.
President William Ruto has announced a 50 per cent reduction in the price of maize seed, with the new price expected to take effect in September 2026.
Ruto said the price of a bag of maize seed, currently retailing at about Sh300, will fall to Sh150 under the government’s new subsidy programme.
The President made the announcement during a church service at AIC Makutano in Taita Taveta County, where he also urged farmers across the country to take advantage of the expected short rains to increase maize production.
“We have decided as the government to reduce the price of maize seeds, and we have also injected public funds to subsidize fertilizer,” Ruto said.
He called on farmers to plant more maize following poor crop performance in the previous season, which he attributed to inadequate rainfall.
“I call upon all farmers across the country to use the expected short rains to grow more food and stabilize Kenya’s food security,” he said.
Fertilizer price to fall by Sh500
Ruto also announced a Sh500 subsidy on fertilizer, reducing the price of a bag from Sh2,500 to Sh2,000.
The government expects the lower input costs to encourage farmers to increase production during the coming planting season.
The President urged farmers to prepare for the short rains and take advantage of the cheaper seeds and fertilizer to increase food production.
Ruto announces Sh18bn school capitation
During the same address, Ruto said the government had already disbursed Sh18 billion in school capitation ahead of the reopening of schools next Monday.
The President accused political opponents of spreading what he described as propaganda that the funds had not been released to schools.
Ruto maintained that the government had made the money available as schools prepared to resume learning.
The issue of capitation has remained a recurring point of debate, with schools and education stakeholders frequently raising concerns over delays in the release of government funds.
New university funding model
Ruto also spoke about the government’s proposed university and TVET funding model.
He said that, if Parliament passes the relevant legislation, the new model will allow qualified students to pursue courses of their choice without being forced to abandon them because their parents or guardians cannot afford the cost.
“The government will pay for each course a learner qualifies to pursue without necessarily dropping the course because parents and guardians are unable to sponsor the student,” Ruto said.
The President said the policy was intended to ensure financial constraints do not prevent qualified students from pursuing their preferred programmes.
Government plans to hire more teachers
Ruto further said the government had hired 100,000 teachers over the past four years.
He added that more than 20,000 additional teachers would be recruited by next year to address gaps in the teacher-to-student ratio.
The recruitment, he said, would support efforts to improve staffing levels in schools as the government implements its education reforms.
The President has continued to defend his administration’s education policies amid criticism from political opponents and sections of the education sector.
