Maize, Fruits, and Fish Lead in Kenya’s Ksh72 Billion Annual Food Waste Crisis

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Maize, Fruits, and Fish Lead in Kenya’s Ksh72 Billion Annual Food Waste Crisis

Kenya is wasting billions in food every year, with maize and fruits being the most wasted food items, according to a new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa.

The report, Food Loss and Waste, reveals that up to 40% of Kenya’s food is lost annually, that’s nearly 9 million tons of food worth Ksh72 billion (USD 578 million). At a time when one in every four Kenyans struggles to find enough food daily, this is a paradox of waste amidst shortage.

Maize, Fruits and Fish are the Worst Hit

The study shows maize, potatoes, fruits and fish as the top food wasted. Kenya loses up to 36% of maize, 23% of potatoes, and 34% of fish, most of these losses happen before food reaches consumers.

Fruit wastage is alarming. The report estimates 56% of fruits go to waste, mangoes 17-56%, avocados 15-35%, bananas 7-11%. Poor handling, inadequate storage and limited market access are the main drivers.

Ripple Effects on Food Security and Farmers

The ripple effects of food waste are felt across Kenyan households. With maize losses over a third of production, the price of flour goes up and ugali—a staple food in Kenya—becomes less affordable for lower income families.

Farmers also take a direct hit as much of their produce spoils before it reaches the market, cutting into their profits and livelihoods. The report says while food waste may seem like a distant issue, its impact is felt across society—from households to businesses and government efforts to ensure food security.

Solutions and Policy Interventions

The WRI report is the most comprehensive analysis yet on food waste in Kenya. It shows where losses happen and proposes urgent interventions to address the crisis.

If Kenya can cut food waste by 50% by 2030, it can feed 7 million more people every year and save Ksh36 billion annually.

Some of the solutions proposed are:

• Better data tracking to understand the scale of losses.
• Proven technologies such as cold storage facilities, hermetic storage bags and modern transport systems.* Farmer empowerment through training and awareness campaigns.
• Food recovery and donation programs from surplus areas to deficit areas.

However the report says while these technologies exist, their adoption is limited, mainly due to cost and lack of awareness. Strong policy implementation and investment in infrastructure will be key to turning the trend around.

Food Waste as a Climate and Economic Problem

Beyond food security, the report says food waste worsens climate change, as discarded produce contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also a big economic loss to farmers, businesses and government in terms of potential revenue.

Ultimately the report calls for a national response, unless we act fast we will continue to have hunger amidst abundance with billions lost in preventable waste.

Also Read: List of 13 Nairobi Estates Set to Be Demolished to Make Way for Modern Apartments

Maize, Fruits, and Fish Lead in Kenya’s Ksh72 Billion Annual Food Waste Crisis