The Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe, has assured Kenyans that the prices of unga will not increase. Speaking on May 5, Kagwe said the government has strategies to ensure the prices do not shoot up.
Kagwe explained that the Ministry will release the country’s strategic reserves to prevent Unga prices from increasing.
“There should be no panic about the prices of Unga going up. It is not going to go up, we are going to ensure it does not go up by releasing the strategic means reserves,” Kagwe said.
Kagwe revealed that the government has sufficient strategic reserves to keep the prices stable.
He was addressing the press after the UNFSS+4 Africa Regional Summit held at the UNON Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.
During the Summit, Kagwe outlined the vision for Africa’s food sovereignty.
He delivered a compelling call to action, emphasising the power of public-private partnerships.
“This is not just an economic issue, it is a moral one. Food is dignity, health and the foundation of every thriving society,” Kagwe said.
Further, he urged African nations to embrace a unified and transformative vision for food sovereignty across the continent.
Kagwe emphasised the urgency of shifting from dependency to self-reliance through a four-pronged approach: agro-processing and trade, climate finance, youth empowerment, and policy coherence.
“Africa must move beyond exporting raw commodities. If we dismantle trade barriers and invest in infrastructure, we can create robust value chains that stabilize food prices and generate employment,” he said , pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a game-changer.
Acknowledging the mounting challenges posed by climate change, he highlighted the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, calling for equitable access to global climate finance.
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Kagwe advocated for tangible actions over rhetoric.
“Let us have an honest conversation about climate financing,” he urged.
“Africa deserves its fair share so that farmers can access adaptive technologies and renewable energy solutions.”
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With Africa holding the youngest population globally, the CS stressed the centrality of youth and innovation in agriculture’s future.
He championed digital farming tools and agritech startups as vehicles for transformation.
“The future of agriculture is youthful and digital. We must prepare our next generation to lead it,” Kagwe said.
Kagwe called for stronger policy alignment with continental frameworks like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the recent Kampala Post-Malabo Declaration, while emphasising the power of public-private partnerships.
UNFSS+4 Africa Regional Summit
The Summit brought together key stakeholders to assess Africa’s progress in food systems transformation.
This high-level summit provided a platform to evaluate achievements since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, identify challenges, and develop strategies for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across the continent.
It also reinforced Africa’s commitment to food security and sustainability, shaping its contributions to the upcoming UNFSS+4 Stocktake in July 2025 in Addis Ababa.
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