Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has revealed that Kenya is facing a significant maize deficit driven by adverse weather conditions, prolonged dry spells, and delayed inputs in primary grain-producing hubs.
The CS projected a supply shortfall of up to 5.4 million 90-kilogram bags (approximately 486,000 metric tonnes), raising concerns over food security and the potential for increased consumer prices for staple goods like maize flour.
Unpredictable weather patterns, including premature rainfall followed by an extended drought across major growing regions such as the North Rift, have severely disrupted crop development and flowering stages.
Distribution bottlenecks involving government-subsidized fertilizer during the primary planting window further compounded expected yield losses.
Kenya’s annual maize demand stands between 50 million and 60 million 90kg bags against an average domestic production capacity of 34 million to 42 million bags, leaving the country heavily reliant on external reserves to bridge the shortfall.
To cushion consumers, stabilize market prices, and build up national reserves, the ministry is initiating government-to-government procurement protocols for imported maize supplies.
CS Kagwe emphasized accelerating large-scale irrigation projects, notably expanding the Galana Kulalu scheme, to decrease dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
While a 90kg bag of maize currently trades between KSh 3,000 and KSh 4,500, officials warn that sustained deficits could apply upward pressure on retail prices. Government bodies and county representatives are coordinating with international partners to streamline agricultural supply chains and prevent severe price spikes for households.
