Kenya Pushes Bold Farm Mechanisation Drive to Modernise Agriculture and Attract Youth
By Margaret Naishorua.
Kenya is intensifying efforts to transform its agricultural sector through expanded farm mechanisation and the adoption of digital technologies aimed at boosting productivity, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening national food security.
Speaking at the opening of the 12th Agritec Africa Exhibition at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary noted that modern farming equipment is central to making agriculture more profitable and attractive—particularly for younger generations.
“The average Kenyan farmer is 64 years old. We want to move from 64 to 34. That is the idea behind mechanisation and digitisation,” he said.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), mechanisation improves efficiency, reduces post-harvest losses, and increases yields. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy, contributing about one-third of GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods, making modernization a strategic priority.
The Cabinet Secretary stressed that traditional farming methods alone cannot sustain the country’s growing food demand. He added that mechanisation and digital agriculture would help farmers increase output, lower production costs, and improve incomes.
Addressing concerns about potential job losses, he argued that mechanisation would instead create new employment pathways in areas such as tractor operation, machinery maintenance, and equipment repair.
“You remove the jembe job, but you train the same person to become a tractor operator and give them a better-paying opportunity,” he said.
The government is also working with the National Treasury to develop supportive policies for importing, assembling, and manufacturing agricultural machinery locally. This approach, he noted, would reduce costs, generate jobs, and strengthen Kenya’s industrial base.
Farmers are being encouraged to form cooperatives to jointly acquire machinery, while financial institutions are urged to offer more affordable credit options. The Cabinet Secretary suggested that interest rates of around 10% could significantly improve access to mechanisation tools.
The government maintains that increased mechanisation will be key to achieving food security, attracting young people into agriculture, and transforming the sector into a modern, competitive engine of economic growth.
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