Members of the National Assembly and the Senate are pushing for a higher budget allocation to the agriculture and livestock sector, citing the need to strengthen food production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
The call was made during a consultative meeting with state corporation heads and ministry officials in Malindi. Speaking after the session, Agriculture and Livestock Committee
Chairperson John Mutunga and Senator Hezena Lemaletian stressed that increased investment is necessary to support research, training, and overall sector growth.
Despite contributing about 25 percent to Kenya’s GDP and employing more than 40 percent of the workforce, agriculture receives only around 3 percent of the national budget.
Legislators warned that this underfunding is slowing progress in key value chains and poses a risk to food security, as well as the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Budget estimates show that the State Department for Agriculture has been allocated KSh 59.99 billion against a requirement of KSh 107.36 billion. In the 2026 Budget Policy Statement, the ministry’s total allocation stands at KSh 75.49 billion, equivalent to 2.7 percent of the KSh 2.8 trillion national budget.
Mutunga noted that Kenya spends over KSh 500 billion annually on food imports, arguing that such funds could instead be invested locally to improve productivity and support farmers through better technology and resources.
“We need to prioritize investment in agriculture if we are to reduce imports and increase local production,” he said.
He added that Parliament is currently considering several agriculture-related bills, including the Food and Feed Safety Regulatory Bill, which is expected to enhance sector regulation and development.
Senator Lemaletian said the Senate is also handling various legislative proposals, some of which will be aligned with those in the National Assembly to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication.
She further pointed out challenges such as inadequate staffing in agricultural institutions and limited funding for agricultural education, noting that lawmakers intend to advocate for increased support for students pursuing agriculture-related courses.
“We must invest in agricultural education and build a strong workforce to support the sector,” she said.
The leaders emphasized the need for Kenya to shift towards a production-focused economy, highlighting agriculture as a key driver of food security and economic sustainability.
By: Catherine Kamunyo
