Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has urged Parliament to increase the Ministry’s budget to at least 5 percent of the national budget, approximately Sh140 billion, warning that the current allocation under the 2026 Budget Policy Statement is insufficient to secure Kenya’s food future.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Dr. John Mutunga, Kagwe noted that the Ministry has been allocated Sh75.49 billion, representing just 2.7 percent of the Sh2.8 trillion national budget.
“This allocation is insufficient for a sector that contributes 22.5 percent to GDP and employs over 40 percent of Kenyans,” he said, emphasizing that Kenya’s allocation remains below the 10 percent target under continental commitments such as the Maputo and Malabo Declarations.
With the population projected to rise from 53.5 million to 70.2 million by 2045, Kagwe warned that without reforms and increased funding, the country risks rising food imports and dependency.
He called for strategic investments, including digital agriculture, expanded irrigation, climate-smart farming, improved livestock genetics, sustained fertilizer subsidies, and recruitment of 1,450 Ward Agricultural Liaison Officers to strengthen coordination with counties.
“Under the Government Agenda (BETA), the Ministry is prioritizing food security, reducing imports, and growing exports through targeted value chains including maize, dairy, rice, wheat, coffee, tea, avocado, and horticulture,” Kagwe announced.
The CS appealed to MPs to support enhanced funding, stressing that agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy and a key driver of inclusive growth.
by Naif Rashid
