KENYA: Ruto Renews Call For Kenya’s Food Independence To Cut KES 500B Import Bill

By Lapit Moses Punyuah, Nairobi, Kenya

President William Ruto has reiterated his government’s commitment to making Kenya self-sufficient in food production, saying the country must end its overreliance on costly imports and invest in local farming.

Speaking during a briefing on the government’s food security agenda, the President said Kenya spends over KES 500 billion annually on food imports, money that could instead empower local farmers and create jobs.

“We cannot continue importing food we can produce. Kenya must feed itself. By investing in irrigation, mechanization, and affordable inputs, we will achieve food independence,” President Ruto said.

He pointed to projects such as the Thwake Dam, the subsidized fertilizer programme, and expanded irrigation schemes as key drivers of agricultural transformation aimed at boosting productivity and resilience against climate shocks.

The Head of State added that the move toward food self-sufficiency will reduce the trade deficit, enhance farmers’ incomes, and spur rural economic growth, ensuring that agriculture remains central to Kenya’s prosperity.