Kenya's Wheat Supply Heavily Dependent on Imports

Kenya's wheat supply is heavily reliant on imports, with domestic production in decline. In 2025, Kenya's wheat harvest fell by 18.2% to 254,900 tons, while imports reached 2,240,000 tons. As a result, imported wheat accounted for nearly 90% of the country's total supply.

The main factors behind weaker domestic production include high costs, volatile prices, drought, crop diseases, land fragmentation, and farmers shifting to more profitable crops. One producer estimated wheat production costs at over KSh50,000 per acre, while at a price of around KSh6,000 per 90 kg bag, farmers need to harvest more than eight bags just to cover their costs.

Kenyan researchers are working on developing new varieties with improved tolerance to drought, soil acidity, low fertility, and rust diseases. These newer varieties have the potential to yield up to 8 tons per hectare, compared to around 1.5 tons per hectare in the 1970s. However, actual yields are often lower due to weather and economic constraints.