President William Ruto has announced plans to cut fertilizer and seed prices ahead of the next planting season as the government steps in to help maize farmers in the North Rift recover from months of failed rains.
Speaking during a church service in Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, August 2, 2026, the President said the intervention is urgent after a prolonged dry spell left farms dry, maize crops withered, and many farmers reluctant to plant.
The price relief will target both the upcoming short rains and the long rains next year. The goal, he said, is to get farmers back to their farms and prevent a food shortage in what is traditionally Kenya’s grain basket.
“The land here is dry and many farmers have stayed away because of the failed rains,” Ruto said.
“Because this part of the country is Kenya’s food basket, we will make sure that we don’t slide into hunger. I want to ask all farmers to return to their farms because the government will scale down the prices of fertilizers and seeds so that we can have enough food.”
How government plans to intervene for Uasin Gishu maize farmers
“The government will intervene in the coming short rains season and the long rains next year. We are going to reduce the price of fertilizer and seeds so that more farmers can go back to the farms and produce more food for us and raw materials for our industries,” the president added.
Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi and other North Rift counties have borne the brunt of erratic weather linked to climate change.
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently conducting an assessment on the effect of prolonged dry spell on maize farms across the North Rift.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim had earlier asked President Ruto to help ensure the government cushions farmers affected from the prolonged drough
