Kenya’s agricultural sector faces significant challenges despite frequent attention and investments. Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, supporting over 70% of rural households, and holding the potential for food security and poverty reduction. However, the reality of agricultural investment in the country is often overshadowed by what can be termed as “cosmetic investment” interventions that appear impressive but lack lasting impact.
Cosmetic investments are highly visible projects that offer an illusion of progress but fail to address the deeper, structural challenges faced by farmers. These include flashy greenhouses that gather dust after the cameras leave, tractors handed over with no accompanying training, fuel support, or plans for ownership, and one-off seed donations that lack follow-up or local adaptation. Recently, scandals involving substandard fertilizers have further highlighted the disconnection between surface-level efforts and the real needs of Kenyan farmers.
Although these cosmetic investments might generate short-term visibility for sponsors, they fail to consider the real, context-specific needs of smallholder farmers who are the cornerstone of the country’s food system. For instance, the high cost of inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, as well as the lack of reliable extension services and tailored climate-smart training, remain key barriers to improving farm productivity. Many farmers receive inputs without guidance on how to use them effectively. Meanwhile, infrastructure projects are often launched without meaningful consultation with the communities they are intended to serve.
Despite these visible efforts, the gap between appearances and tangible impact continues to widen. A recent survey from the Central Bank of Kenya revealed that over 85% of farmers cited the high cost of agricultural inputs as a significant barrier to improving yields. Moreover, many farmers still lack access to essential resources, such as extension services, financing options, and climate resilience strategies.
This growing divide raises the question: What does meaningful agricultural investment look like? True agricultural transformation may not be glamorous or headline-grabbing, but it is impactful. It requires long-term investments in building the capacity of farmers through training, mentorship, and peer learning. Such investments should support locally led models, including cooperatives and savings and credit groups (SACCOs), which are crucial for building resilience. It should also involve strengthening diversified value chains and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroecology and regenerative farming. Crucially, farmers must have access to fair and transparent market systems.
At organizations like Mifugo Centre, the focus is on grassroots initiatives that emphasize trust, ownership, and community involvement. Programs like “One Farmer, One Month,” which started with five farmers pooling funds to acquire livestock, have grown into powerful institutions built on local cooperation and sustainable practices. There are no ribbon-cutting ceremonies, but the impact is real and lasting.
The cost of continuing to fund short-term, cosmetic projects is not just the waste of resources. It leads to missed opportunities for creating resilient food systems, disillusioned farmers who lose trust in development programs and government initiatives, and a disinterested younger generation that opts out of agriculture. Furthermore, it perpetuates the vulnerability of the sector to climate change, pests, and global economic shocks.
To build a sustainable food system in Kenya, both state and non-state actors must focus on quality investment, not just quantity. We must ask crucial questions about the long-term viability of agricultural projects: Will they still matter in five years? Who owns and maintains them? Do they create dependency or foster self-reliance? Are they guided by the voices of farmers or driven by external sponsors?
True agricultural investment does not rely on spectacle or flashy displays. It must be patient, grounded in the realities of local farmers, and focused on long-term empowerment. It should motivate farmers to become self-reliant and be built on the values of integrity, fairness, unity, growth, and opportunity. In this way, we can not only grow crops but also cultivate dignity, resilience, and a sustainable future.
