Kenya is preparing to make history as it gears up to host the 2026 World Potato Congress (WPC), a landmark event expected to elevate the country’s potato industry onto the global stage and unlock new opportunities for farmers, investors, researchers, and agribusiness players.
During a high-level briefing held on May 20, 2026, at Kilimo House, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for WPC Kenya 2026 met with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the global congress.
The Cabinet Secretary assured the committee of his full support and active involvement in organizing what is expected to become one of the most influential agricultural events ever hosted in the region. He emphasized that Kenya must use the congress not merely as an international gathering, but as a strategic platform to transform the potato value chain into a competitive, business-oriented sector driven by innovation, investment, and private-sector participation.
According to the CS, the potato industry has the potential to become a major economic pillar capable of generating jobs, improving food security, and increasing incomes for farmers across the country. He challenged the organizers to ensure that the congress delivers tangible benefits to Kenyan farmers and stakeholders long after the event concludes.
He stressed the importance of defining a clear legacy for the congress, noting that WPC 2026 should leave behind meaningful gains in knowledge transfer, technology adoption, investment opportunities, market access, partnerships, and innovation exchange within the potato value chain.
The World Potato Congress 2026 will take place from October 26th to 30th, 2026, at the Sawela Lodges and Convention Centre in Naivasha. The event will mark the first time the prestigious congress is being hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa, placing Kenya at the center of global discussions on potato production, processing, sustainability, trade, and food systems.
More than 1,000 delegates from over 60 countries are expected to attend the congress. Participants will include policymakers, scientists, researchers, seed producers, growers, processors, investors, agritech innovators, private-sector leaders, and development partners from around the world.
Beyond the international delegates, the congress is also expected to directly benefit local farmers. Over 1,500 Kenyan potato farmers are set to participate in a major field day organized alongside the congress, where they will have an opportunity to interact with global experts, learn about emerging technologies, explore modern farming methods, and experience innovations shaping the future of potato farming worldwide.
The hosting of the congress comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly positioning agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation and industrial growth. Potatoes are among the country’s most important food and cash crops, supporting millions of livelihoods through farming, transportation, processing, and trade.
Industry stakeholders believe that hosting WPC 2026 could significantly boost Kenya’s visibility as an agricultural investment destination while strengthening local capacity in seed systems, mechanization, climate-smart farming, value addition, and export readiness.
For Kenya’s potato farmers, the congress represents more than an international conference. It is being viewed as an opportunity to connect local agriculture with global markets, modern technologies, and international partnerships that could reshape the future of the sector for years to come.
