CS Mutahi Kagwe has secured assurance from the Government of Zambia to supply up to 1M 90kg bags of maize if drought worsens and local stocks decline.
This comes as about 3.3M Kenyans face acute food insecurity, projected to rise to 3.6M by June 2026.
Speaking during the 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council in Italy, the CS said he held bilateral talks with Zambia’s Agriculture Minister, Reuben Mtolo, who confirmed Zambia can release over 1M bags from its grain reserves if needed.
Kagwe noted that while Kenya may gazette duty-free imports if local stocks fail to replenish the Strategic Grain Reserve, maize from Zambia would not require gazettement under Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade arrangements.
An initial 250,000 bags could be cleared to stabilize supply as the government continues monitoring the food security situation and protecting the local market.
The meeting was also attended by PSs Jonathan Mueke and Eng. Julius Korir.
