Kenya Halves Seed Prices and Cuts Fertiliser Costs to Boost Food Production
Nairobi, 24 August 2026
President William Ruto has announced a 50 per cent cut in maize seed prices and cheaper fertiliser to lower production costs and protect farmers from recent drought impacts.
Direct Relief for Farmers Amid Climate Pressures
Speaking at AIC Makutano in Taita-Taveta County on Sunday, 23 August 2026, President William Ruto announced a significant reduction in the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of subsidised fertiliser from KSh2,500 to KSh2,000 [1][3]. This represents a percentage decrease of -20 per cent in the cost of fertiliser for local farmers. Additionally, the government is cutting maize seed prices by 50 per cent starting in September 2026 [1][3]. These interventions are specifically designed to cushion agriculturalists against poor crop performance caused by the dry spell during the May-to-August 2026 rainy season, ensuring that those who suffered losses can afford to plant in the upcoming season [1][8].
Economic Impact and Shared Benefits in Turkana
The agricultural relief is expected to have a substantial stabilising effect on food security across the country, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Turkana County [GPT]. By lowering production costs for farmers, the subsidy is projected to reduce market food prices nationwide [GPT]. In Turkana, where host communities and refugees live side-by-side, cheaper staple foods like maize will directly ease the cost of living and improve nutrition [GPT]. This shared economic relief is critical for fostering social cohesion and supporting refugee populations who are highly sensitive to market price fluctuations [GPT].
A Strategic Shift to Production-Led Subsidies
According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, these measures represent a deliberate policy shift from subsidising consumption to supporting production by lowering the costs of essential inputs [8]. Under the new pricing model, the government will cover half the cost of maize seeds, reducing the price of a single kilogramme from KSh300 to KSh150 [8]. Consequently, a 2-kilogramme pack will cost KSh300 instead of KSh600, a 10-kilogramme pack will retail at KSh1,500 instead of KSh3,000, and a 25-kilogramme pack will cost KSh3,750 down from KSh7,500 [8]. The seed programme targets approximately 40 million kilogrammes of maize seeds, with the state committing nearly KSh6 billion to fund the subsidy [8].
Long-Term Agricultural and Infrastructural Progress
This latest price drop marks a massive decline of -73.333 per cent from the KSh7,500 price tag of a 50-kilogramme fertiliser bag in 2022, prior to the national subsidy scheme [8]. Since 2022, the government has distributed about 33.55 million bags of subsidised fertiliser to 1.98 million farmers at a cost of KSh78.79 billion, helping boost national maize production from 34.3 million bags in 2022 to 73 million bags in 2025 [8]. Alongside agricultural support, President Ruto highlighted broader developmental investments in Taita-Taveta, including KSh17 billion allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme and the ongoing registration of 245,000 residents under the Social Health Authority [1].