Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has raised concerns over the low budget allocation for the Agriculture, Rural, and Urban Development (ARUD) sector, saying Kenya has consistently allocated only around 3 percent of the national budget to the sector, far below the targeted 10 percent.
CS Kagwe appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Livestock and Agriculture, chaired by Tigania West MP John Mutunga, alongside Agriculture PS Dr. Paul Rono, to present the Ministry’s priorities under the 2026 Budget Policy Statement.
He told the committee that there is a persistent gap between the Ministry’s proposed priorities and the actual allocations received from the National Treasury.
“Even within the limited budget available, there is a disconnect between what we propose and discuss with the National Treasury and Parliament and what we are allocated as a Ministry. Sometimes the allocation does not reflect our priorities. There is also a need for clarity between the two State Departments in the budget,” CS Kagwe said.
During the session, key issues discussed included the ongoing drought in the North-East region and plans to safeguard remaining livestock, the fertilizer subsidy program, seed pricing, the proposed maize importation from Zambia, and strategies to revive the struggling tea sector.
The Committee is set to meet the State Department for Livestock Development tomorrow, Friday, February 20, 2026, to continue budget discussions.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
