Kenya is hosting the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC), the first time the event is taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Running from October 26 to 30, 2026, it is bringing together 1,000 delegates from 67 countries positioning the country as a potential investment hub for potato production, processing and value addition.
Opening the congress yesterday, the Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sen. Mutahi Kagwe called on international and local investors to help Kenya replace imported potato products, expand processing capacity and transform idle public land into productive agricultural enterprises.
The attendance exceeded the initial target of 600 delegates from 60 countries, underscoring growing international interest in Kenya’s potato industry and agricultural investment opportunities.
Kagwe urged participants to ensure the congress delivers tangible benefits to farmers through improved productivity, higher incomes and better access to markets.
“A food secure, healthier, prosperous farmer is also, in my considered view, a prerequisite for a safer, stable and productive society,” he said.
The congress provides a platform for partnerships in agricultural research, certified seed production, mechanisation, storage and processing, while showcasing Kenya’s potential to strengthen its position in regional and international potato markets.
Kagwe reiterated his call for investors to bridge the gap between local potato supply and demand. During a preparatory meeting last week, he said domestic production met approximately 40 per cent of the market, while imports accounted for the remaining 60 per cent.
“This is an opportunity to substitute imports,” he said, encouraging investments that connect farmers to processors, hotels, restaurants and fast-food businesses. Such partnerships, he said, could retain more earnings within the country, create jobs and strengthen Kenya’s capacity to export quality potato products.
The CS also highlighted the government’s Land Commercialization Initiative, which leases idle public land to private investors on a long-term basis for agricultural production. He called for investments integrating commercial farming with irrigation, modern technology, value addition and reliable markets.
To reduce reliance on unpredictable rainfall, Kagwe outlined plans to develop 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams and 1,000 water pans and reservoirs.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ National Agriculture Production Report 2025, Kenya produced approximately 2.2 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, valued at KSh72.5 billion. Production declined from about 2.3 million tonnes in 2023, partly due to failed short rains and excessive long rains that encouraged fungal diseases, including potato blight.
To address these challenges, the government is prioritising quality seed, disease management, climate-smart farming and reduced post-harvest losses.
Kagwe highlighted research by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the International Potato Center on a late blight-resistant biotechnology potato based on the popular Shangi variety. Developed by introducing three resistance genes, the potato demonstrated complete resistance to late blight in field trials, potentially reducing fungicide applications.
He also cited Clone IG-70, a drought- and blight-tolerant variety developed at KALRO’s Potato Research Centre in Tigoni, which is progressing towards final verification.
Additionally, the KALRO Marindas Potato Sub-Centre in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County, commissioned three months ago, is expected to improve access to certified seed and training in modern farming technologies.
Kenya is banking on the congress to translate international partnerships into practical investments that boost farmer incomes, strengthen food security and expand the country’s agricultural economy.
