Nairobi, Kenya – The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), has announced new wheat prices and import quotas for 2025/2026.
This is after AFA convened a four-day stakeholder workshop from June 24 to 27, 2025, to review the implementation of the Wheat Purchase Programme (WPP) as part of the monitoring and evaluation efforts.
In a statement seen by News 9 Kenya, Dr. Bruno Linyiru, AFA director general, said the key outcomes included the official closure of the 2024/2025 season, an analysis of production costs and the determination of minimum wheat prices and aggregator margins for the 2025/2026 season.
“A follow-up price negotiation meeting was held on July 3, 2025,” said Dr. Linyiru.
Against this backdrop, the following resolutions were agreed upon to enhance the effectiveness of the WPP.
a) Allocation of Wheat Import Quotas
The Authority, in collaboration with the National Treasury, evaluated applications from millers seeking to import wheat under the Duty Remission Scheme (DRS) for the upcoming season.
Approvals were granted based on:
– Registration with AFA as wheat importers
– Performance in previous local wheat purchase commitments
– Performance in the last import quota utilisation
– Installed milling capacity
The AFA director general indicated that all participating millers will be required to purchase locally produced wheat in quantities proportional to their allocated import quotas.
b) Wheat Grading System for 2025/2026 Season
The grading criteria applied in the 2024/2025 season will remain in effect for the 2025/2026 season as follows:
Grade Bushel Weight (lbs)
1. 78 and above
2. 75-77.9
3. Below 78
c) Wheat Aggregation Process
Aggregation will be done by aggregators who will be vetted afresh and registered by AFA as marketing agents. A handling fee of Sh220 per 90kg bag to cater for weighing, offloading, and testing will be paid to aggregators, shared equally between the farmer and the miller.
d) Recommended Minimum Wheat Prices for 2025/2026 season
Minimum prices have been determined based on a study of the average cost of production, an established pricing formula and negotiations. The goal is to offer farmers fair compensation and encourage increased production. After stakeholder consultations, the following minimum prices applicable at traditional wheat buying centers (Narok, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Timau) are recommended for the 2025/2026 season:
Bushel Weight – Minimum Price Per 90kgs bag (Kshs.)
78 and above (Grade 1) – 4,750
75-77.9 (Grade 2) – 4,650
Below 75 (Grade 3) – Willing buyer, willing seller
What is AFA
AFA is a Kenyan state corporation operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives. Established by the Agriculture Act, it regulates Kenya’s crop sector.
Its creation involved merging key directorates under the Crops Act of 2013 to improve agricultural efficiency and regulation. The AFA’s role includes consolidating laws to promote and regulate agriculture in the country.
What is the way forward
According to Dr. Linyiru, all commitments agreed upon during stakeholder negotiations are final and binding.
“Any future amendments aimed at supporting the Wheat Purchase Programme will be communicated in due course following stakeholder consensus,” said the director general.
News 9 Kenya knows that the Wheat Purchase Programme (WPP) is a Duty Remission Scheme established by the National Treasury after consultations with the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) and the Cereal Growers Association (CGA). The Programme’s objective is to encourage local wheat production and reduce overreliance on imports.
Under this scheme, millers gazetted by the East African Community (EAC) Customs Union benefit from a reduced import duty rate of 10%, down from the standard 35% applicable to sensitive products under the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).
This preferential duty rate is conditional upon the millers purchasing locally grown wheat to support domestic production at a negotiated price.
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