Kenya is stepping up to become a regional leader in agricultural science with the launch of a high-tech wheat research facility in Njoro, Nakuru County.
Backed by Ksh 1.3 billion in investment, the facility was set up by the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).
CIMMYT Director General Dr. Bram Hovartz said the centre is designed to sharpen Kenya’s role in developing solutions for fast-evolving wheat diseases.
“What we are doing is to accelerate and improve the capacity of CIMMYT and KALRO collaboration around wheat so that farmers can receive wheat seed that is resistant to diseases,” he said.
The centre features advanced greenhouses, a cold room for seed storage, and infrastructure to support rapid seed multiplication tools that will give Kenya an edge in research and help farmers adapt to growing threats.
“There is multiple challenges because of climate change, accelerated diseases, but also because of soil degradation,” Hovartz added. “But today what I actually wanted to highlight is there’s a lot of hope.”
Dr. Felister Makini, KALRO Deputy Director (Crops), said the move reflects a long-term push to transform Kenya into a hub for agricultural innovation while supporting food production and farmer resilience.
