President William Ruto has announced a strategic plan to phase out the importation of edible oil in Kenya within the next five years. The declaration came following the signing of the County Government Additional Allocation Bill at State House, Nairobi, on Monday. Ruto emphasized the substantial financial impact of edible oil imports on the country’s foreign exchange, costing over a billion dollars annually.

During his address, the President highlighted the government’s initiative in the previous year, providing Kenyan farmers with sunflower seeds. He outlined a three-year goal to reduce edible oil imports by at least 50%, with a broader vision to completely cease importation within the next five years. Ruto underscored the importance of collaboration between the National and County governments in achieving this objective.

Ruto explained, “Edible oil is one of the big tickets that is consuming our foreign exchange, and it is our plan to reduce the purchase of edible oil where we spend close to a billion dollars every year.” The President outlined specific crops, such as sunflower, granola, soya, and palm oil, as key contributors to achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production.

Expressing the administration’s broader commitment to reducing reliance on imports, Ruto stated that efforts also extend to commodities like sugar, wheat, maize, and rice, with a total import cost exceeding Sh500 billion. Since assuming office in September 2022, President Ruto has prioritized bolstering agricultural production to enhance the country’s food self-reliance.

The Kenya Kwanza administration has implemented measures such as subsidizing fertilizers for farmers and supplying seeds for crops traditionally heavily dependent on imports. The County Governments Additional Allocation Act, 2023-24, aligns with this vision, allocating additional funds to counties to provide subsidized fertilizer to farmers, further supporting the government’s agricultural self-sufficiency initiatives.