Kenya’s Agricultural Future Depends on Empowering Women Farmers

            Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu, at the Press Club event “Women Cultivating Opportunity” held at The Sarova Stanley Hotel during International Women’s Week, highlighted the vital role of women farmers in Kenya’s agriculture.

By Maximilla Wafula 

Nairobi, Kenya -March 12, 2026 -Women farmers are at the heart of Kenya’s agricultural economy, yet systemic barriers continue to limit their full potential, experts said at a high-level forum held to mark International Women’s Week 2026. The event, held under the theme “Women Cultivating Opportunity,” brought together stakeholders from academia, research institutions, media, and civil society to discuss the vital role of women in agriculture and explore strategies for their economic empowerment.

Opening the forum, Zubeida Kananu, President of the Kenya Editors Guild, highlighted the often-overlooked contributions of women to food systems. She shared a personal story of her late mother, whose small kibanda supported both her family and local farmers despite facing challenges in land ownership, access to credit, and modern farming technologies. “Behind every thriving food system are women quietly feeding a nation,” she noted.

Delivering the keynote, Mary Mbithi, Team Leader at the University of Nairobi WEE Hub, revealed that women make up 70–80 percent of the agricultural labor force but receive less than 10 percent of agricultural credit. Structural barriers such as limited land rights, restrictive cultural norms, and lack of access to finance continue to hinder women’s economic participation. “Addressing these barriers is not just a gender issue; it is an economic imperative,” Professor Mbithi said. She urged policies that strengthen women’s land and inheritance rights, expand access to affordable finance, and support women-led enterprises along agricultural value chains.

Dr. Lucy Wakiaga of the African Population and Health Research Center emphasized the importance of education and policy reform in closing gender gaps. She noted that disparities in STEM education and access to new technologies limit women’s opportunities in higher-value agricultural sectors. “Educational inequality directly affects women’s productivity and leadership in agriculture. Inclusive growth requires removing cultural stereotypes and investing in gender-responsive education,” she said.

Panel discussions also highlighted the invisible burden of unpaid domestic and care work, which reduces women’s ability to participate fully in economic activities. Experts called for investments in social infrastructure, such as childcare and labor-saving technologies, to free up time for income-generating work. Speakers further emphasized inclusive partnerships among governments, research institutions, development partners, and the private sector, as well as the involvement of men and youth in women’s empowerment initiatives.

The forum concluded with a call to action for increased investment in women farmers, policy reforms, and stronger data collection to guide evidence-based decision-making. Participants agreed that placing women at the center of agricultural development is essential for achieving inclusive economic growth, resilient food systems, and sustainable rural economies.

“Empowering women farmers is one of the most powerful investments we can make in Kenya’s future,” the speakers concluded.