The government has rolled out a major initiative to promote local production and processing of edible oils, with a focus on sunflower farming, aiming to reduce Kenya’s heavy reliance on imports and drive rural economic growth.
During a visit to a sunflower oil processing cottage factory in Nambale, Busia County, Principal Secretary for MSMEs Susan Mang’eni urged farmers, cooperatives, and agripreneurs to tap into the high-potential edible oil sector.
“Kenya spends billions annually importing edible oils due to a shortage of raw materials. Regions like Busia—with fertile land and active farming communities—can lead the shift toward self-sufficiency,” she said.
Currently, Kenya consumes about 900,000 metric tonnes of edible oil annually but produces only 80,000, making it the second-largest import after petroleum.
The government’s intervention is part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which supports MSMEs, value addition, and food security.
PS Mang’eni praised Daljeet Wirk Food Processors, the local factory she toured, for its innovative model that processes sunflower seeds into cooking oil and repurposes byproducts as chicken feed.
She described it as a successful example of BETA in action—creating jobs, enhancing food security, and boosting local economies.
To support farmers, the government is distributing certified sunflower seeds through organized groups, targeting 800–1,000 farmers per ward.
Successful wards will receive sunflower pressing machines to streamline production.
