Kenya Woos Investors as Global Potato Congress Opens in Naivasha

Speaking during the opening of the 13th World Potato Congress in Naivasha on Monday, October 26, 2026, Kagwe said Kenya currently meets only 40 per cent of its potato product demand from local production, leaving a significant gap that is filled through imports.

The congress, the first to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa, has attracted more than 1,000 delegates from 67 countries, surpassing initial expectations and placing Kenya at the centre of global discussions on potato farming, trade and food security.

Kagwe urged local and international investors to tap into opportunities in potato processing, value addition and commercial farming, saying increased investment could help Kenya retain more revenue within the country while opening up export markets.

He also highlighted the government’s Land Commercialisation Initiative, which seeks to lease idle public land to private investors for agricultural production. The initiative is expected to link large-scale farming with irrigation, technology adoption, value addition and market access.

The CS said potato remains Kenya’s second most important food and cash crop and plays a critical role in supporting livelihoods across farming, transport, trade, food processing and hospitality sectors.

How much potato does Kenya produce?

According to government data, Kenya produced about 2.2 million tonnes of potatoes worth KSh 72.5 billion in 2024. However, production declined slightly from the previous year due to adverse weather conditions and disease outbreaks, including potato blight.

To address these challenges, the government is banking on research and innovation to improve productivity. Kagwe revealed that scientists have developed a biotech version of the popular Shangi potato that demonstrated complete resistance to late blight during field trials. The variety could significantly reduce farmers’ reliance on costly fungicide applications.

Another promising development is Clone IG-70, a drought- and blight-tolerant potato variety currently undergoing final verification before release to farmers.

The government is also expanding access to certified seed through new research centres and partnerships targeting smallholder farmers. Through the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative, about 150,000 farmers are expected to benefit from support aimed at increasing yields, improving quality and promoting climate-smart farming practices.

In addition, Kagwe disclosed that cold storage infrastructure has been established in 12 counties over the last four years to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen market access.

As the five-day congress continues, attention is expected to focus on how Kenya can leverage global partnerships to boost processing capacity, cut imports and increase earnings for potato farmers. The event is also expected to connect producers with researchers, seed suppliers, technology providers and potential investors in one of the country’s fastest-growing agricultural value chains.