NEW YORK, U.S. – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has concluded a high-level agriculture and trade mission to the United States, unlocking new export opportunities, financing pledges and investment partnerships aimed at transforming Kenya’s farming sector.
At the centre of the mission was a meeting with United States Africa Trade Desk (USATD) chief executive Gavin Van Der Burgh, where Kagwe secured a deal to expand the presence of Kenyan produce in US retail outlets.
The agreement will see Kenyan farm products reach more supermarket shelves while USATD provides financing support to exporters to sustain higher export volumes.
“This financial backing is crucial to stabilising supply chains and giving exporters the capacity to scale,” Kagwe said, noting that visibility in the American retail market would spur stronger demand for Kenyan produce.
The CS also urged American investors to direct capital into large-scale farming and agro-processing in Kenya, highlighting wheat, yellow maize and rice as priority areas that could shift the country from being a net importer to a regional breadbasket.
In New York, Kagwe held talks with Mastercard executive vice president Tara Nathan at the Kenya Consulate.
The discussions explored how Kenyan farmers can formalise their enterprises, improve access to credit, and benefit from a proposed centralised Agriculture Information and Resource Centre to consolidate farmer data and unlock tailored financial solutions.
The mission also secured academic and business linkages. South Carolina State University’s 1890 Research & Extension arm agreed to collaborate with Kenyan agricultural colleges in training, research and crop development, while the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce (SCAACC), representing over 15,000 businesses.
The pact, signed by KNCCI Diaspora Chair Simon Kariuki Nyagah and SCAACC Chair Stephen Gilchrist, is expected to strengthen trade, investment and business collaboration between Kenya and the US.
Kagwe was accompanied by senior private sector leaders including MACNUT Chair Jane Maigua, Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai, KTDA Chair Geoffrey Kirundi and CEO Wilson Muthaura, KETEPA Managing Director John Ngatia, and representatives from Tropical Nuts and Kipchimchim Group, underscoring Kenya’s readiness to expand its footprint in the US market.
