Cash-strapped Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has opened up nearly 2,000 acres of land across the country as part of a broader State strategy to generate revenue from idle public assets.
Official disclosures show that the State agency has listed 1,909.9 acres for long-term leases to investors for farming and other temporary business ventures, as it seeks to boost revenue and reverse its dire financial position, marked by cash flow challenges and debt projected at about Sh90 billion.
The land on offer includes 1,234 acres in Donyo Sabuk Komarock, Marania transmission site (146.5 acres), Maralal (200 acres), Kitale (200 acres), Nyamninia transmission site (100 acres), Kapsimotwa (29 acres), and Sauti House Mombasa (0.4 acres).
‘This will secure the remaining property and avoid further illegal encroachment, invasion, and land-grabbing attempts. To further utilise the space and put the land into economic use instead of leaving it lying idle. The government has further directed parastatals to look into ways of generating their own income instead of relying on the exchequer for funding. This, therefore, calls for better utilisation of the land for income generation,’ KBC said.
The leases form part of the State’s Land Commercialisation Initiative (LCI), which aims to lease up to 500,000 acres of idle land and attract at least Sh65 billion in agricultural investments.
The initiative targets a reduction in the staple food deficit by at least 50 percent, creation of 1.1 million jobs, higher farmer incomes and increased value addition.
Other public land identified for the LCI includes 200 acres at Egerton University set aside for an agro-science park, 10,000 acres at the Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme, and 25,000 acres at the Bura irrigation scheme.
Additionally, the Tana Delta Irrigation Project has 10,000 acres earmarked for rice production, while Kiambere in Embu County has 1,000 acres for fruit and vegetable farming.
Lease push
The State has also offered 21-year renewable leases to investors for 25,000 acres within the Bura irrigation scheme for commercial sugarcane production, as part of the wider push to monetise idle public land.
The Bura scheme spans 296,000 acres, of which 12,000 acres have been developed and 6,000 acres are currently under production for rice and maize.
The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) said it has opened up 25,000 acres for sugarcane farming under lease arrangements.
A work plan released by the NIA in June 2025 shows the government plans to allocate 45,000 acres in the Bura scheme to rice farming and 50,000 acres to sugarcane, while maize, pasture and fodder crops will occupy 10,000 acres.
Under the partnership model, the government will provide bulk irrigation water from the main canal, while lessees will be responsible for on-farm distribution, land preparation and infrastructure development.
The Agriculture and Livestock Ministry has also opened up 21,000 acres of idle land belonging to the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (Tarda) for commercial leases to boost food security.
The State plans to lease 20,000 acres within the Samburu Kirimun field unit held by NYS, currently used for livestock production, wildlife conservancy and tree plantations. An additional 1,000 acres held by Tarda near the Kiambere hydropower dam is also available.
Cash-strapped Moi University has also opened up 1,500 acres at its main Kesses campus in Eldoret for farming leases. The university said investors will take up the land for 60 months, mainly for maize farming.