Farmers in the North Rift have appealed to the national government to waive their loan repayments as part of compensation for losses incurred due to prolonged drought in the region.
They asked the government to bail them out by directing the Agricultural Finance Corporation and the Co-operative Bank of Kenya to write off loans borrowed during the crisis.
The farmers, drawn from Uasin Gishu and TransNzoia counties, say successive failed seasons have left them with massive debts, food insecurity, and no capacity to repay loans advanced for seeds, fertilizer, and livestock feeds.
Speaking during the interview, Philip Matui, a farmer from Uasin Gishu who plants sugarcane and maize, said that the prolonged drought that ravaged the region has wiped out maize and dairy production, which are the main economic activities in the area.
“Since I was born, I have never seen a year with a prolonged drought like this. There is no farmer who is likely to harvest anything this season,” Matui said.
Matui noted that he usually borrows approximately Sh2.5 million from the bank for his farming activities, but this year there will be no produce to service the loan due to the drought. He further warned of a looming food crisis and urged the government to act urgently.
He called on the national government to put in place emergency measures to avert the food crisis.
“The government should look into the matter of food hunger in the year 2027. As it stands, there will be no food,” he said.
He argued that without compensation and debt relief now, most farmers in the North Rift will not have the capacity to plant in the next seasons. This crisis, he said, will directly impact national food reserves and drive up the cost of basic commodities like maize flour and sugar.
Another farmer, Eliud Kebenei, appealed to the Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr Kiprono Ronoh Paul, to brief the president on the magnitude of the crisis in the region. Kebenei, who said he has invested over Sh2 million in his farm, is also asking the government to help farmers write off loan debts owed to the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and other banks.
“We have used millions on our farms, but we have nothing to show for it. We are requesting Agriculture Principal Secretary, Dr. Kiprono Ronoh Paul, to speak to the President regarding this situation. The government should help us write off the loans we borrowed from AFC and other banks,” Kebenei said.
Edwin Limo, on the other hand, pleaded with the government to prioritize irrigation in the region. He said the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation should help them drill dams to enable farmers to irrigate crops, water livestock, and meet other household needs.
“Our boreholes have dried up, and we cannot meet our needs in terms of dairy production and farm produce,” he said.
He further added that the cost of living is already high and will get worse if the situation continues.
“Where we are heading now, we will have to buy water. The government must act before it gets to that point,” warned Limo.
By Shaline Jeruto
