Kenya urges African leaders to shift from talk to action in agriculture reforms

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho has called for action over rhetoric in transforming Africa’s agriculture sector, urging governments to move with speed and coordination in implementing reforms under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026–2035 agenda.

Speaking during a high-level regional leadership retreat in Limuru, Kimotho emphasised that meaningful change in the sector will depend on deliberate and coordinated efforts by governments.

Kimotho noted a growing shift among African countries towards strengthening domestic food systems, with a focus on resilience, value addition and local consumption.

“Transformation will not come from theory, but from deliberate action driven by strong political will, disciplined implementation, and intentional coordination,” he said.

The two-day retreat brought together 16 Permanent and Principal Secretaries from 14 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, to align on strategies for accelerating agrifood systems transformation across the continent.

He thus called for a departure from fragmented approaches, urging governments to treat agriculture as an integrated system rather than a standalone sector.

The PS underscored the role of political leadership in driving reforms, saying it remains key in enhancing coordination and mobilising resources, noting that commercialising agriculture would be critical in creating jobs, particularly by supporting smallholder farmers to transition into agripreneurs through targeted investments.

PS Kimotho at the same time identified mechanisation, digitalisation and irrigation as essential drivers of productivity and climate resilience, while also pointing to financing and partnerships—especially blended finance and private sector involvement—as crucial in unlocking growth.

Turning to Kenya’s priorities, he highlighted the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan, which seeks to expand irrigation to one million acres over the next decade.

The plan, he said, is aimed at reducing the country’s food import bill, currently estimated at Ksh.500 billion, by up to half.

According to the PS, the government is investing in water infrastructure, including more than 50 multipurpose dams, while seeking to increase irrigated land from 767,000 acres to over three million acres.

He also pointed to the Farmer-Led Irrigation Development model as a key intervention enabling farmers to access financing for irrigation equipment.

The PS stressed the need to strengthen governance in the irrigation sector and invest in capacity building, while ensuring women and youth are at the centre of agricultural transformation through improved access to land, finance, technology and markets.

Kimotho consequently urged leaders across the continent to prioritise implementation and scale up proven solutions to affirm commitment to partnerships aimed at delivering sustainable and inclusive food systems.

“Move from dialogue to implementation by strengthening whole of government coordination, prioritizing high impact interventions, and scaling what works, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to partnerships, including with AGRA to drive sustainable food systems transformation,” he stated.