Revamp underperforming and collapsed export crops while expanding emerging ones (coffee, cashew nuts, pyrethrum, avocado, macadamia nuts).

• On the 3rd of October 2023, the Statute Law Amendment Bill was read before parliament and a proposal was made to curb the mismanagement of coffee cash crop societies by introducing regulations that allow the EACC and ODPP to nab those who take advantage of farmers. This would be a step forward in actualizing the President’s promise of increasing export of cash crops from Kenya.

• 10th January 2024: The Ministry of Agriculture is spearheading an initiative to revive the pyrethrum sector, aiming to capitalize on the increasing global market demand.

• 22nd October 2024: The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has stopped the export of some avocado varieties to prevent harvesting of immature fruits in efforts to comply with international quality standards.

• 31st October 2024: US government pledges to support revival of Kenya’s pyrethrum sector

Further Updates

• 5th December 2024: State walks back on its macadamia export pledge

  The State has reneged on its promise to extend a six-month window for the export of raw macadamia nuts, only limiting the period to 30 days in a development that deals a blow to farmers stuck with piles of the hard-shelled product

• 16th February 2025: Macadamia farmers and traders have decried huge losses occasioned by extended ban on exportation of in-shell nuts. 

Kenya Kwanza promised to establish 5 million acres (20,000 km2) agroforestry woodlots in drylands. This promise is yet to be implemented.

Promote youth-owned and operated briquette-making enterprises where agricultural waste is available in commercially viable quantities (coffee waste, rice husks, maize cobs, and coconut husks).

• 4th August 2023: Kenya Kwanza committed  to decriminalize charcoal trade, modernize and commercialize the charcoal value chain; promote youth-owned and operated briquette making enterprises and support the scaling up of clean cooking

On the 23rd of November 2022, the President promised that the amount of processed tea leaving Kenya would move up from 5% to 50% in five years. Additionally, his ten-year plan was for Kenya to be processing all the tea produced here.

On the 6th of January 2023, the Tea Amendment Bill 2023 was published which seeks to amend certain provisions in the Tea bill 2020 in an effort to liberate the tea industry in Kenya.

• The Kenya Kwanza promised to raise the productivity of the key value food chain, hence reducing basic food importation.

The President initiated the distribution of subsidized fertilizers across the country, which in return increased food production. 

September, 20th 2022: The Government has availed Ksh 3.55 Billion, to subsidize 71,000 Mt (1.42 million x 50 kg bags) of fertilizer, for growing food crops during short rains season. This is following a directive by H.E the President Dr. William Samoei Ruto in his inauguration Speech on Tuesday 13th September 2022 where he directed that 1.4 million bags of fertilizer be availed to farmers at a maximum subsidized price of Ksh 3,500 per 50kg bag down from Ksh 6500, as part of the Government’s interventions to address the high cost of living. However, there were several scandals linked to fertiliser distribution. May 7th, 2024: Owners of companies linked Sh 209 million fertiliser scandal charged in court. Further, July 2nd 2024: Mystery of 564 tonnes of Russian fertiliser cargo that didn’t reach Kenya.

September 10, 2023: President William Ruto in his inauguration speech directed that 1.4 million bags of fertilizer be availed to farmers at a maximum subsidized price of 3,500 shillings per 50kg bag down from 6500 shillings, as part of the government’s interventions to address the high cost of living.

Six days later, the subsidized fertilizer was availed at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots and sub-depots countrywide. The prices of fertiliser would later drop by 1000 shillings when the president launched the second phase of the fertilizer subsidy program in August 2023. The move boosted farmers’ produce during the short rains.

January 11 2024: On efforts to increase production, Coffee Nyeri farmers called for the return of subsidized farm inputs such as chemicals and fertilizer saying they are unable to improve production due lack of farm inputs in part due to harsh economic times.

Furthermore, they have demanded the immediate implementation of Guaranteed Minimum Returns (GMR) for their produce as promised by President William Ruto’s campaign in 2022.

• On 16th May, 2023, the President of Kenya promised to revive the country’s textile industry by scaling up cotton production.

There is no public record on the revival of the texture industry by scaling up cotton production. On 5th December, 2023, the government raised the price of cotton from sh 52 per kilogram to sh 65 per kilogram. 

• Reduce dependence on basic food imports by 30 per cent (domestic oil crops production from 5 per cent to 25 percent, rice from 18 per cent to 40 per cent)

• Transform two million poor farmers from food deficit to surplus producers through input finance and intensive agricultural extension support, with a target to generate a minimum productivity target of Sh50,000 revenue an acre.

There is no public record showing implementation of the promise yet.

• Deploy modern agricultural risk management instruments that ensure farming is profitable and income is predictable, such as was provided for scheduled crops by the Guaranteed Minimum Returns (GMR) Scheme in the 1970s. These instruments include crop and livestock insurance schemes, commodity market instruments such as forward contracts, futures contracts and price stabilization schemes.

There is no public record showing implementation of the promise yet.