Kenya’s food imports bill hits record Sh82bn in first quarter

Food truck

Trucks loaded with imported maize from Tanzania waiting to offload outside Mombasa Maize millers in Mombasa.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

The value of Kenya’s food and beverage imports hit Sh81.6billion in three months to March 2026, marking a record first quarter expenditure and underscoring renewed concerns over dwindling domestic crop output.

The 40.9 percent jump in the food and beverages import bill from Sh57.9billion in the corresponding quarter of 2025 also represents the fastest growth since 2023 when the country battled a devastating drought and disruptions in the global supply chain.

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