Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture, calling it the cornerstone of Kenya’s future economic growth, food security, and industrialisation.
Speaking from his official residence in Karen during a strategy meeting with senior government officials overseeing agricultural reforms, Kindiki emphasised the urgent need to strengthen agricultural value chains.
“Agriculture is not just about food it’s the foundation of household income, job creation, and our journey toward becoming a manufacturing-driven economy,” he said. “Revamping our value chains is the key to unlocking Kenya’s prosperity.”
The Deputy President received detailed updates on government-led interventions in major agricultural value chains such as coffee, tea, sugarcane, rice, dairy, maize, horticulture, nuts, cotton, and edible oils. These efforts are part of a broader push to achieve food self-sufficiency while boosting incomes across rural households.
Kindiki noted that over the past two years, significant progress has been made under the Kenya Kwanza administration in revitalising the coffee, tea, maize, and sugar sectors. Work is also underway to revive underperforming chains in wheat, rice, edible oils, and nuts, with ongoing dialogue between the government and industry stakeholders to remove persistent barriers.
Focusing on rice production, Kindiki pointed out that Kenya faces an annual deficit of 800,000 metric tonnes a gap the government intends to close through increased acreage, better farming practices, and enhanced farmer support.
“Rice is our third most important staple after maize and wheat,” he said. “We are determined to make Kenya self-sufficient in rice. With targeted investments and policy support, we can eliminate the deficit, empower farmers, and enhance food security in a short time.”
According to Kindiki, agriculture remains the single most transformative sector capable of solving the country’s most pressing challenges, from unemployment to economic stagnation.
