Kenya stands at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its agriculture sector. With a strong digital backbone, progressive policy frameworks, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem, the country has all the ingredients required to revolutionize smallholder farming. Yet, one critical question remains: why hasn’t this transformation fully taken off?
On 1st April 2026, the Strathmore Agrifood Innovation Center convened over 100 agricultural leaders for a landmark dialogue on the future of farmer advisory services in Kenya. The room brought together a powerful mix of stakeholders from the Government of Kenya, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Safaricom, Equity Group Foundation, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, to agri-tech startups and development partners.
The shared ambition was clear: ensure that every farmer in Kenya has access to the knowledge they need to thrive.
A Strong Foundation But Limited Impact
Kenya is not starting from scratch. In fact, much of the foundational infrastructure is already in place:
- Millions of farmers are registered in national databases
- Multiple platforms are actively collecting farm-level data
- Mobile network coverage exceeds 90% nationwide
- A policy environment that is increasingly supportive of digital innovation
And yet, despite this progress, adoption remains surprisingly low. Fewer than 10% of farmers actively use digital tools. Extension services remain overstretched, with ratios often exceeding one officer for every 1,000 farmers. Meanwhile, innovative solutions continue to emerge but many operate in silos, unable to “talk” to each other.
The issue, therefore, is not the absence of solutions but the lack of alignment and interoperability.
From Potential to Practice: The Role of AI
In his keynote address, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh represented by Nancy Cheruiyot captured the urgency of the moment:
“AI allows us to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. We must provide information that is fast, accessible, and affordable. If we don’t have accurate data at the farm level, we will continue making wrong decisions.”
This is where Artificial Intelligence moves beyond buzzword status and becomes a practical tool for transformation. When underpinned by a reliable data infrastructure, AI has the potential to:
- Deliver personalized, real-time advisory to millions of farmers
- Reduce the cost of extension services by up to 36%
- Increase farm incomes by as much as 25%
The promise is real. The technology is ready. The economics can work.
The Missing Link: Governance and Trust
Despite the optimism, one theme consistently surfaced throughout the convening: governance.
Private sector players highlighted a fundamental constraint you cannot invest in what you cannot see or verify. Limited access to reliable, shared data restricts innovation, financing, and scalability.
Key questions remain unresolved:
- Who owns and controls farmer data?
- Who pays for and maintains shared digital infrastructure?
- What happens when donor funding phases out?
- How do we ensure accountability when systems become centralized?
These are not just technical questions, they are structural ones. And until they are addressed, progress will remain fragmented.
SAFIC’s Role: Convening for Collective Action
In a complex ecosystem with diverse and sometimes competing interests, neutral spaces for dialogue are essential. This is where SAFIC continues to play a critical role.
As a convener, SAFIC brings together stakeholders across government, private sector, academia, and development partners to foster:
- Shared understanding
- Strategic alignment
- Coordinated action
Because ultimately, transforming agriculture in Kenya is not about building more tools it’s about ensuring that existing tools work together to deliver real value to farmers.
The Road Ahead
Kenya does not lack innovation, infrastructure, or ambition. What it needs now is integration, governance, and collaboration at scale.
The conversation has begun. The momentum is building, and the opportunity to transform millions of livelihoods through smarter, data-driven agriculture has never been more within reach.
If you are building, investing, or innovating in this space, now is the time to connect, collaborate, and co-create the future of agriculture in Kenya.