- Ministry of Agriculture had requested Ksh106 billion but was only given Ksh58.2 billion.
- Unpaid bills totalling Ksh11.8 billion were left out of the budget.
- Only 3% of the national budget went to agriculture, far below the 10% target.
- Fertiliser, seed subsidies, and other key programs received less than needed.
- Donors now carry 64% of agriculture development funding.
- Experts warn that food security and economic goals could be at risk.
Kenya’s agriculture and livestock ministries will now operate under heavy strain after getting less than expected from the 2025/26 budget. Parliament has allocated Ksh58.2 billion, even though the Ministry had asked for Ksh106 billion to support food security, climate efforts, and farming reforms.
From the allocation, Ksh48.25 billion goes to the Agriculture Department, while Ksh9.99 billion is set aside for Livestock Development. While this is a small increase from last year’s Ksh57.06 billion, experts say it’s still too low to cover essential needs.
Worryingly, there are unpaid debts of Ksh11.8 billion left hanging—Ksh7.88 billion under agriculture and Ksh4 billion under livestock—which include subsidies and court awards. These amounts were not included in the new budget, raising fears of disruptions in key services.
The budget also gives only Ksh8 billion to the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, despite a need of Ksh18 billion. Other plans like seed support, tea reforms, livestock feedlots, and produce centers were either underfunded or ignored completely.
Big Dependence on Donors as Key Institutions Face Cuts
The report also reveals that 64% of development funds for agriculture are now coming from donor loans and grants, showing heavy dependence on external support. One of the main beneficiaries is the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, which got Ksh10.2 billion from donors.
Meanwhile, several important institutions had their budgets slashed. This includes KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation), the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), and the Kenya Veterinary Board. These cuts are expected to slow down research, farmer financing, and regulation in the sector.
Despite agriculture being responsible for 22.5% of Kenya’s GDP and employing millions, it only received 3% of the national budget—much lower than the 10% target set in both the Malabo and Kampala Declarations.
The Parliamentary Agriculture Committee is now asking the government to re-examine the budget, pay pending bills, and rethink the merging of key institutions under Executive Order No. 1 of 2025.
Without serious and stable investment, they warn, Kenya’s food security and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) could face major challenges.
