Kenya opens public consultations on agricultural data and digital policy
Stakeholders and citizens can submit views as the government reviews plans to guide how agricultural data and digital systems work across the sector.
KENYA – Kenya has opened a national public consultation on a new policy and bill that will guide how agricultural data and digital systems operate across the sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has invited farmers, companies, research groups, and members of the public to submit comments on the Draft Kenya Agricultural Data, Information and Digital Policy 2026 and the Draft Digital Agricultural Information Bill 2026. The consultation period runs from March 10 to March 27, 2026.
According to the notice issued by the ministry, the policy aims to guide how digital tools and agricultural data systems support farming, research, and market access across the country. The bill will also create a new national institution to manage agricultural data.
Mutahi Kagwe said the process will allow citizens and sector players to take part in shaping the plan.
“The government invites individuals, organizations and institutions to submit their comments on the draft policy and bill,” he said in the public notice. “Public participation forms an important part of developing legislation that affects the people of Kenya.”
Nationwide stakeholder meetings
The ministry will hold physical consultation meetings in fourteen regional clusters between March 23 and March 27. These meetings will take place in counties such as Kisii, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, and Mombasa.
Officials expect farmers, agri-tech firms, cooperatives, researchers, and civil society groups to attend the sessions and share views on the proposed framework.
Each meeting will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Participants will arrange their own travel to and from the venues.
The consultations follow constitutional rules that require public input when the government prepares new laws and policies.
New centre for agricultural data
The proposed bill will create the Kenya Agricultural Digital Information Centre. The centre will manage national agricultural data systems and support coordination across the sector.
Officials say the institution will help improve how data moves between farmers, government agencies, research bodies, and market actors. Better data systems could also support planning, food security monitoring, and digital services for farmers.
The ministry has published the full draft policy, bill, and comment templates on its website. Stakeholders can submit written feedback through email, courier, or hand delivery before the consultation window closes on March 27.
“All stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to attend the meetings and share their views,” the ministry said in the notice.
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