By Ivy Gesare
The Kenyan government is calling on private investors, farmers, and agribusinesses to lease idle public land as part of a national initiative aimed at enhancing food security and reducing the country’s dependence on costly food imports.
Speaking at the Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) National Show, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe emphasized the urgency of revitalizing local food production in the face of ongoing shortages in key staples such as wheat, rice, maize, and palm oil.
“Kenya is facing critical shortages in essential food commodities,” Kagwe said. “By leasing idle government land to qualified investors, we can boost local production, create jobs, and strengthen food systems in our communities.”
The government has identified thousands of acres under agencies such as the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and the Kenya Prisons Service that are now available for commercial leasing. Kagwe noted that Kenya imports about 92% of its wheat and 75% of its rice annually—statistics the government hopes to change through expanded local cultivation.
He cited the successful leasing of public sugar companies like Mumias and Nzoia as examples of how partnerships with the private sector can revive dormant sectors. This, he added, contributed to Kenya not importing maize and sugar this year for the first time in decades.
More than 21,000 acres of idle land have been earmarked for development through the initiative. Among them are 3,500 acres managed by the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) across Kiambere and Masinga, and the 20,000-acre Kirimun field in Samburu, previously used by the National Youth Service (NYS) for livestock and tree planting.
Large-scale irrigation schemes also present significant opportunities. The Bura Irrigation Scheme, with over 110,000 acres, along with Galana Kulalu and the Tana Delta region, offer vast tracts of land suitable for commercial food production.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced that strict guidelines will govern the leasing process, including proper land valuation, transparent bidding, and regular monitoring to prevent misuse or neglect.
Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones, who attended the ASK Show, praised the initiative and growing interest among agricultural exhibitors. “This is a vital step toward equipping local communities with knowledge and tools to increase productivity,” he said. “Empowered farmers are the backbone of our rural economy.”
Farmers are already optimistic. Jane Mwangi, a small-scale farmer from Meru County, welcomed the initiative. “Access to more land means we can grow more food and improve our livelihoods,” she said. “Many of us struggle with small plots—this could change everything.”
The Land Commercialisation Initiative is aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Growth and Transformation Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029). It aims to attract over KSh 65 billion in private investment and create more than a million jobs by unlocking the economic potential of underutilized public land.
The program is being supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is helping the government design and implement structures that will make the initiative sustainable and investor-friendly.
With a focus on climate-smart agriculture, community involvement, and modern farming methods, the government hopes the initiative will not only improve national food production but also build long-term resilience against climate change and global food supply shocks.