Drought not affecting grain harvests in central Kenya

A severe drought in central Kenya has not affected the country’s grain harvest, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Information Service (FAS).

Despite rainfall in some regions being only 30% of the long-term average, and moisture shortages “exacerbated by persistently above-average temperatures, which further deplete soil moisture reserves,” the country’s maize harvest for the growing season increased from 3.8 million tons in 2024-25 to 4.4 million tons this year.

Wheat production is expected to be slightly higher, at 280,000 tons, and wheat imports are expected to reach a record 2.6 million tons in 2025-26.

Tags: drought, Kenya, crop forecast