Kenya Unveils KES 1.1 Trillion Agri-Food Investment Plan to Drive Food Security and Jobs

Kenya has unveiled a KES 1.1 trillion National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) for 2026–2030, setting out an ambitious roadmap to modernize agriculture, strengthen food security, attract private capital and create more than two million jobs over the next five years.

The investment framework, launched during the Financing Agri Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), marked the second phase of implementing Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029).

Speaking during the launch on behalf of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said the investment plan provides a fully costed framework to accelerate agricultural transformation while positioning Kenya as a regional hub for sustainable agri-food investment.

The strategy seeks to build resilient food systems, modernize agricultural value chains, expand irrigation, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen national food security.

“This investment will be mobilized through a strategic partnership in which the Government of Kenya, together with County Governments, will contribute 35%. I am calling on the commitment of the County Governments, through the Council of Governors, to achieve this goal.  The private sector is expected to contribute 45%, and the Development and bilateral partners’ share is 20% of the total investment envelope.” said PS Mueke.

The launch coincided with renewed calls for African countries to accelerate implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, which guides the continent’s agricultural development agenda for 2026–2035.

Held under the theme “Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa’s Food Systems”, the FINAS Summit has brought together policymakers, development partners, financial institutions and private sector investors to discuss ways of unlocking financing for agriculture across Africa.

Discussions focused on blended finance models, climate-smart agricultural investments, innovative financing mechanisms and lessons from countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

FINAS Summit Director Dr. Charity Mutegi said the conference is shifting attention from policy discussions to implementation by bringing together institutions capable of financing agricultural transformation.

“In its third edition, FINAS continues to advance sustainable finance as a catalyst for meaningful change in Africa while laying the foundation for a private sector-led agriculture finance working group,” she said.

Participants are also reviewing financing assessment tools developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aimed at identifying investment gaps and improving the flow of public and private capital into food systems.

Furthermore, development partners attending the summit emphasized that stronger collaboration will be necessary to deliver the continent’s agricultural ambitions.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Kenya, Caitríona Ingoldsby, highlighted that transforming Africa’s food systems will depend on partnerships between governments, development partners, the private sector and smallholder farmers, reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to supporting inclusive agricultural development across the continent.

Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga, Vice President for Programme Delivery at AGRA, urged governments to move beyond policy commitments and focus on implementing agricultural investments that deliver measurable improvements for farmers.

Meanwhile, Maren Kneller, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Kenya, said African governments should create investment-friendly environments that reduce risk, attract private capital and encourage innovation across agricultural value chains.

FSD Kenya Chief Executive Officer Rashmi Pillai called for financing models that respond to the needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and smallholder farmers, arguing that inclusive financial systems will be essential for building resilient agricultural value chains.

Additionally, the investment plan comes as governments across Africa increase spending on agriculture and introduce policy reforms aimed at attracting greater private investment into sustainable food systems amid rising concerns over food security, climate change and population growth.

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