Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has praised Kenyan farmers for their role in feeding the country, describing them as key players in efforts to improve food security.
Kindiki said farmers continue to produce food despite the challenges they face, including the cost of agricultural inputs.
“The Kenyan farmers are our heroes. We celebrate them today for working hard to feed our people, despite challenges they encounter,” Kindiki said.
He was speaking on Thursday during the first day of the 2026 Agriculture and Food Systems Summit at the Agricultural Society of Kenya Showground in Jamhuri Park.
The Deputy President said the government had taken measures to reduce the cost of farm inputs, including fertiliser and sexed semen.
He said the price of fertiliser had dropped from Ksh7,000 in 2022 to Ksh2,000 in 2026, while sexed semen had reduced from Ksh8,000 to Ksh1,000 over the same period.
Kindiki also pointed to the completion of 17 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, saying the facilities would help farmers add value to their produce and improve their earnings.
He further highlighted the growing use of drone technology in farming, saying it could help farmers apply inputs more precisely and avoid wastage.
The Deputy President said it was encouraging to see more Kenyans, particularly young people, treating agriculture as a business and career rather than relying on farming only for food.
“I am happy to see young people now practising agriculture while in the past, they had left agriculture to the elderly,” he said.
Earlier, Kindiki toured exhibition stands where various government ministries, departments and agencies were showcasing their work.
He also visited the State Department for Irrigation stand, where he was hosted by Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho.
The Irrigation Authority, Tana River Sugar, Tana Bliss, SELU, Sunculture and Equity were among organisations showcasing initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ resilience to climate challenges through irrigation.
The 2026 Agriculture and Food Systems Summit brings together stakeholders to discuss issues affecting agriculture and food production in the country.