Kenya Unveils KES 1 Trillion Investment Plan at FINAS 2026
Posted by EDITORIAL
Kenya has launched an ambitious KES 1.081 trillion National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan (NASIP 2026–2030) as the country seeks to transform its agricultural sector through increased public and private investment, resilient food systems, climate-smart agriculture, and improved access to finance.
In Summary
- Kenya has unveiled the KES 1.081 trillion National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan (NASIP 2026–2030) during the opening of the FINAS 2026 Summit, outlining an ambitious roadmap to modernize agriculture, strengthen food security, create over two million jobs, and attract public and private investment.
- A key side event at the summit focused on expanding financial inclusion through wholesale agricultural lending, bringing together regulators, financiers and development partners to discuss innovative financing models that can unlock affordable credit for farmers and agri-businesses across Africa.
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The landmark investment framework was officially unveiled during the opening of the Third Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) Summit 2026 in Nairobi,bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, researchers, investors and agricultural stakeholders from across Africa.
The launch, presided over by Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development on behalf of Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, marks a major milestone in the second phase of implementing Kenya's Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029).
The five-year investment plan is designed to strengthen Kenya's agricultural value chains, expand irrigation infrastructure, improve food security, increase farmer incomes, create more than two million jobs, and position Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable agri-food investment.
Speaking during the official launch, PS Mueke described the National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan as a fully costed framework that will require strategic collaboration between government, the private sector and development partners to achieve its objectives.
He noted that the Government of Kenya, together with county governments, is expected to contribute 35 percent of the investment, while the private sector will provide 45 percent, with development and bilateral partners contributing the remaining 20 percent.
Mueke challenged county governments, through the Council of Governors, to play a central role in mobilizing resources and implementing the investment agenda, emphasizing that collaboration across sectors will be essential in delivering sustainable agricultural transformation.
The launch also coincided with renewed calls for accelerated implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, as African countries begin rolling out the 2026–2035 CAADP Kampala Strategy and Action Plan, which prioritizes sustainable food production, agro-industrialization, climate resilience, investment, regional trade, inclusivity and stronger food systems governance.
Held under the theme "Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems," the FINAS Summit features high-level discussions on blended finance, climate-smart investment, innovative agricultural financing mechanisms and practical lessons from Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
FINAS Summit Director Dr. Charity Mutegi said the summit is focused on moving beyond dialogue towards practical implementation by bringing together governments, financiers and development partners to mobilize investments capable of transforming Africa's food systems.
Earlier on Panel discussion at a side event
Spotlight on Financial Inclusion Through Wholesale Agricultural Lending
Alongside the official opening ceremony, one of the summit's flagship side events examined how wholesale lending can be leveraged to expand financial inclusion within the agricultural sector.
The session, titled "Leveraging Wholesale Lending to Advance Financial Inclusion in the Agricultural Sector," brought together senior leaders from central banking, agricultural finance institutions, financial sector organizations and development partners to explore innovative financing solutions capable of reaching farmers and agricultural enterprises that remain underserved by conventional lending models.
The discussion was moderated by Ngo B. Anny Caroll, Secretary General of the African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA).
Panelists included Cappitus Chironga Jazz, Deputy Director for Financial Sector Analysis, Research and Development at the Central Bank of Kenya; James Kashangaki, Deputy CEO and Head of Impact at Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Kenya; Christopher K. Kiburu, Chief Credit Officer at the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC); Dr. Patrick Gathondu, Chief Executive Officer of BIMAS Kenya Limited; Samuel Yeboah, Chief Operating Officer at GIRSAL; and Geoffrey O. Nyamao, Country Manager for Kenya and Global Social Lenders Lead at Aceli Africa.
The panel examined how wholesale financing structures can strengthen agricultural credit ecosystems by enabling financial institutions to extend affordable lending to farmers, cooperatives, agri-SMEs and rural enterprises that often struggle to access traditional financing.
Participants emphasized that strengthening agricultural finance requires collaboration between central banks, development finance institutions, commercial lenders and guarantee providers to reduce lending risks while improving access to affordable capital.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of digital financial services, innovative credit products, risk-sharing mechanisms and impact investment in supporting inclusive agricultural growth, particularly for women, youth and smallholder farmers.
Speakers agreed that increasing access to sustainable finance is fundamental to accelerating agricultural productivity, building climate resilience and unlocking greater private sector investment throughout agricultural value chains.
Building Africa's Sustainable Food Systems
The convergence of the launch of Kenya's National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan and the discussions on wholesale agricultural lending underscored a common message throughout FINAS 2026: sustainable transformation of Africa's food systems will depend not only on ambitious policy frameworks but also on innovative financial architectures capable of mobilizing investment at scale.
As governments, financial institutions and development partners work toward implementing the Kampala Declaration and strengthening agricultural financing, the summit is positioning itself as a platform that connects policy with investment and ideas with implementation.
With the unveiling of the KES 1.081 trillion investment plan and continued dialogue on expanding financial inclusion, Kenya has signaled its intention to lead regional efforts in building resilient, inclusive and commercially viable agri-food systems capable of delivering long-term food security, economic growth and sustainable livelihoods.
