By Michelle Ndaga
Principal Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, today hosted IFAD Country Director Mariatu Kamara and her team for an update on the Rural Kenya Financial Inclusion Facility (RK FINFA), a flagship initiative aimed at expanding affordable finance for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing over 25% of GDP, 65% of exports, and 75% of jobs, mostly in rural areas.
Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that transforming the sector through value addition and inclusive financing is a top government priority under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
RK FINFA seeks to promote access to affordable credit, scale up adoption of climate-smart technologies, and integrate farmers into productive value chains.
The initiative also aims to unlock private sector investment, build resilience, and drive sustainable rural transformation.
By partnering with commercial banks, SACCOs, and microfinance institutions, the programme is helping farmers and agri-SMEs access much-needed capital, create jobs, and raise incomes, ultimately strengthening Kenya’s food security and economic growth.
Dr. Kiptoo reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to collaborate with IFAD and other stakeholders to build a more inclusive, resilient, and growth-oriented agricultural sector.
