NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has approved the importation of 25 million 90-kilogramme bags of maize to bridge an anticipated food deficit following reduced production in key agricultural regions.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Wednesday, August 19, that the government had already made arrangements to facilitate the imports as part of measures to safeguard the country’s food security.
“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.
The planned imports are intended to prevent a significant supply gap and help stabilise maize prices as the country faces the effects of drought and other climate-related challenges.
Kenya faces 25 million-bag deficit
According to Kagwe, Kenya consumes approximately 75 million bags of maize every year.
However, reduced harvests in some of the country’s major food-producing regions are expected to leave the country with a deficit of about 25 million bags.
The government says importing the commodity will provide an immediate solution while protecting consumers from potential price increases caused by reduced domestic supplies.
The intervention comes as maize remains one of Kenya’s most important staple foods, with changes in its availability and price having a direct impact on household food costs.
Government expands irrigation
While the imports are expected to address the immediate shortage, Kagwe said the government was pursuing longer-term measures aimed at increasing domestic production and reducing the country’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
One of the key interventions is the expansion of irrigation projects, including the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.
The government expects expanded irrigation to increase agricultural productivity while helping farmers withstand drought and other climate-related disruptions.
The Agriculture CS also said the Ministry would work with the National Treasury to address tax and administrative challenges affecting farmers and agribusinesses.
The reforms are intended to make agriculture more competitive, improve profitability and encourage greater investment across the sector.
AgriConnect programme targets youth jobs
Youth employment was also highlighted during the Fifth Joint Consultative Meeting of County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), where the Ministry launched consultations for the proposed AgriConnect Compact Programme.
Kagwe said the programme is expected to create thousands of employment opportunities as the government seeks to transform agriculture into a modern, technology-driven and commercially viable sector.
The meeting brought together representatives from the national and county governments as well as the World Bank Group.
Officials reviewed progress under the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), both of which are expected to transition into the AgriConnect Compact Programme.
The initiative is part of wider government efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains and create opportunities for young people in farming, processing, technology and related businesses.
Maize flour prices ease slightly
The planned imports come as Kenyan households continue to face elevated food prices, despite a modest decline in the cost of maize flour in recent months.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the average retail price of a two-kilogramme packet of sifted maize flour fell to Sh157.15 in July 2026, down from Sh159.78 in June.
The decline represented a monthly reduction of about 1.6 per cent.
However, food price pressures remain significant.
KNBS reported that inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages stood at 9.0 per cent in July 2026, making the category one of the major contributors to Kenya’s overall inflation rate of 6.5 per cent.
Although maize flour prices declined, households continued to face higher costs for other food products, including potatoes and fruits.
