Kenya has issued a strong call to developed nations and global investors to urgently finance climate-smart agriculture, warning that inaction could destabilise global food systems.
Speaking at the 3rd Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, maintained that climate change is no longer a future threat but a present crisis already disrupting farming systems.
He noted that Kenya’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture has left millions vulnerable, with five failed rainy seasons between 2020 and 2023, over 4 million people pushed into food insecurity, and significant livestock losses.
“The crisis persists, with parts of the country facing floods while others endure drought and extreme heat,” reported Kagwe.
Further, the CS emphasised that Africa must no longer be sidelined in global climate decision-making, insisting that solutions must be locally driven and tailored to farmers’ realities.
He also called for enforcement of the ‘polluter pays’ principle, urging developed economies to match their climate commitments with accountable financing.
Highlighting Kenya’s progress, Kagwe pointed to ongoing investments in renewable energy, climate-smart farming technologies, irrigation, and resilience-building measures, alongside more than USD 250 million already secured for climate financing.
However, he stressed that significantly more capital is needed to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential.
Positioning Africa at the centre of global food security, the CS encouraged investors to view climate-smart agriculture not as a risk but as one of the biggest opportunities of the decade, adding that Kenya is ready to lead in driving sustainable agricultural transformation.
By Michael Omondi
