Part II: Complete County-by-County Agricultural Land Investment Directory (Counties 1–24)

Understanding Kenya’s agricultural land market requires looking beyond county boundaries and examining what truly drives investment potential. Factors such as climate, rainfall reliability, soil composition, infrastructure, population density, water availability, and market access all influence both productivity and long-term capital appreciation.

The following county profiles combine the agricultural land price ranges and farming characteristics from the source material with practical investment commentary to help buyers understand where different opportunities exist. These indicative price ranges relate to agricultural land and do not include premium urban commercial property.

1. Mombasa County

Approximate Land Area: 52,559 Acres

Population Density: 22.24 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 15 Million – 40 Million per Acre

Agricultural Profile

Mombasa is Kenya’s smallest county by land area and one of its most densely populated. Agriculture plays only a minor role, limited primarily to peri-urban farming due to extensive urban development.

Investment Outlook

Agricultural investment opportunities are extremely limited. Investors purchasing land here are generally targeting redevelopment into commercial, residential, hospitality, or mixed-use projects rather than farming.

Best For

• Commercial redevelopment
• Hospitality developments
• Logistics
• Mixed-use investment

2. Kwale County

Approximate Land Area: 2,043,635 Acres

Population Density: 0.45 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 400,000 – 1.5 Million per Acre

Agricultural Profile

Kwale enjoys favorable rainfall and fertile coastal soils suitable for:

• Sugarcane
• Coconut farming
• Cashew nuts
• Mangoes
• Livestock
• Mixed food crops

The county also benefits from tourism growth along Kenya’s south coast.

Investment Outlook

Kwale offers investors an attractive balance between agricultural production and tourism-driven appreciation. Areas near Diani, Msambweni, and major transport corridors continue to experience growing demand.

Investment Rating: ★★★★★

3. Kilifi County

Approximate Land Area: 3,026,023 Acres

Population Density: 0.51 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 300,000 – 1.2 Million per Acre

Agricultural Profile

Kilifi combines extensive agricultural land with one of Kenya’s fastest-growing coastal property markets.

Major agricultural activities include:

• Cashew nuts
• Coconut farming
• Sisal
• Maize
• Mangoes
• Livestock
• Horticulture

The county also supports tourism, retirement developments, eco-lodges, and beachfront investments.

Why Investors Love Kilifi

Kilifi is one of Kenya’s most diversified investment destinations.

Investors can acquire large agricultural holdings while benefiting from improving infrastructure, expanding tourism, and increasing demand from local and international buyers.

At Mkaazi Real Estate Ltd, Kilifi remains one of our strongest recommendation areas for long-term land banking, mixed-use development, and commercial agriculture.

Investment Rating: ★★★★★

4. Tana River County

Approximate Land Area: 8,741,532 Acres

Population Density: 0.04 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 80,000 – 250,000 per Acre

Agricultural Profile

Tana River possesses enormous agricultural potential due to the Tana River irrigation system.

Major activities include:

• Rice
• Livestock
• Maize
• Irrigated vegetables
• Riverine farming

Investment Outlook

Large land parcels remain affordable.

Future irrigation expansion could significantly increase agricultural productivity and land values.

Best For

• Commercial irrigation
• Ranching
• Food production
• Institutional farming

5. Lamu County

Approximate Land Area: 1,532,420 Acres

Population Density: 0.04 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 250,000 – 800,000 per Acre

Agricultural Profile

Lamu combines agriculture with tourism and strategic infrastructure development.

Major crops include:

• Cotton
• Coconut
• Mangoes
• Food crops

The LAPSSET Corridor continues to shape long-term investment expectations.

Investment Outlook

Suitable for investors seeking long-term appreciation driven by infrastructure and tourism alongside agricultural production.

6. Taita Taveta County

Approximate Land Area: 4,221,501 Acres

Population Density: 0.09 People per Acre

Agricultural Land Price Range: KES 150,000 – 600,000 per Acre

Agricultural Profile

The county features diverse ecological zones supporting:

• Sisal
• Horticulture
• Ranching
• Irrigated farming
• Dairy

Investment Outlook

Excellent opportunities exist for investors seeking affordable large-scale agricultural land with good transport links to Mombasa.

7. Garissa County

Agricultural Price: KES 80,000–250,000 per Acre

Garissa’s economy is dominated by livestock production and river-based agriculture along the Tana River.

Its competitive advantage lies in affordable acreage suitable for commercial ranching and irrigated farming where water resources are available.

8. Wajir County

Agricultural Price: KES 50,000–150,000 per Acre

Wajir remains one of Kenya’s most affordable counties for acquiring large land holdings.

Primary activities include camel production, cattle, goats, sheep, and pastoral livestock systems.

Investment success depends heavily on water availability and grazing management.

9. Mandera County

Agricultural Price: KES 60,000–200,000 per Acre

Mandera supports livestock alongside irrigated onion, fruit, and vegetable production in river-fed areas.

Strategic irrigation investments could unlock significant agricultural value over the coming decades.

10. Marsabit County

Agricultural Price: KES 50,000–150,000 per Acre

Marsabit is Kenya’s largest county by area.

Its economy revolves around:

• Camel production
• Beef ranching
• Livestock trade
• Conservation

Land remains among the country’s least expensive.

11. Isiolo County

Agricultural Price: KES 100,000–400,000 per Acre

Isiolo sits at the intersection of northern transport corridors.

Growth drivers include:

• Livestock markets
• Conservation
• Tourism
• Logistics
• Future infrastructure

Long-term appreciation is expected around transport investments.

12. Meru County

Agricultural Price: KES 1.5 Million–5 Million per Acre

Meru ranks among Kenya’s agricultural powerhouses.

Major enterprises include:

• Miraa
• Tea
• Coffee
• Dairy
• Avocados
• Horticulture

Reliable rainfall and volcanic soils continue to support premium agricultural land values.

Investment Rating: ★★★★★

13. Tharaka Nithi County

Agricultural Price: KES 600,000–1.8 Million per Acre

A transition zone between highlands and semi-arid landscapes.

Major activities include:

• Tea
• Maize
• Livestock
• Pulses

The county offers relatively affordable entry into Central Kenya agriculture.

14. Embu County

Agricultural Price: KES 1.2 Million–4 Million per Acre

Embu is renowned for:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Macadamia
• Dairy
• Horticulture

Its fertile volcanic soils and dependable rainfall continue to attract serious agricultural investors.

15. Kitui County

Agricultural Price: KES 150,000–600,000 per Acre

Kitui supports:

• Green grams
• Honey
• Livestock
• Drought-resistant crops

The county increasingly attracts investors interested in regenerative agriculture and dryland farming innovations.

16. Machakos County

Agricultural Price: KES 1.5 Million–6 Million per Acre

Machakos benefits enormously from Nairobi’s metropolitan expansion.

Agriculture includes:

• Poultry
• Dryland horticulture
• Maize
• Dairy

Urban expansion continues pushing agricultural land values upward.

17. Makueni County

Agricultural Price: KES 300,000–1.2 Million per Acre

Known nationally for:

• Mangoes
• Citrus
• Poultry
• Livestock

Makueni demonstrates how drought management and commercial fruit farming can transform regional economies.

18. Nyandarua County

Agricultural Price: KES 1 Million–3 Million per Acre

Among Kenya’s premier potato-producing counties.

Other enterprises include:

• Dairy
• Cabbages
• Carrots
• Seed potatoes

Excellent soils and cool climate support intensive commercial farming.

19. Nyeri County

Agricultural Price: KES 2 Million–6 Million per Acre

Nyeri’s premium agricultural reputation is built on:

• Arabica coffee
• Tea
• Dairy
• Horticulture

Land commands premium prices due to consistently high productivity.

20. Kirinyaga County

Agricultural Price: KES 2.5 Million–7 Million per Acre

Home to the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga leads Kenya in rice production while also supporting tomatoes, horticulture, and dairy.

Its reliable irrigation infrastructure underpins some of the country’s strongest agricultural land values.

21. Murang’a County

Agricultural Price: KES 2 Million–5.5 Million per Acre

Murang’a has become one of Kenya’s avocado export success stories.

Commercial farming includes:

• Avocados
• Tea
• Coffee
• Dairy

Strong export demand continues supporting premium land prices.

22. Kiambu County

Agricultural Price: KES 6 Million–20 Million per Acre

Kiambu has evolved into Kenya’s premier peri-urban agricultural county.

While tea, coffee, dairy, poultry, and horticulture remain important, urban expansion increasingly influences land values.

Agricultural buyers compete directly with residential and commercial developers.

23. Turkana County

Agricultural Price: KES 50,000–150,000 per Acre

Turkana offers vast affordable acreage suitable for:

• Ranching
• Irrigated farming
• Renewable energy
• Conservation

Water access remains the primary investment consideration.

24. West Pokot County

Agricultural Price: KES 300,000–900,000 per Acre

West Pokot combines:

• Livestock
• Maize
• Highland farming
• Horticulture

Its varied climate creates opportunities across both crop production and livestock enterprises.

Regional Investment Summary

The first twenty-four counties illustrate the remarkable diversity of Kenya’s agricultural land market. Coastal counties such as Kilifi and Kwale provide opportunities where agriculture, tourism, and long-term land appreciation intersect. Central counties including Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu continue to command premium prices due to fertile soils, export-oriented agriculture, and proximity to major markets. Meanwhile, counties such as Tana River, Turkana, Marsabit, and Garissa offer some of the country’s lowest entry costs for investors pursuing ranching, irrigation, conservation, or long-term land banking strategies.

In Part III, we will complete the national directory by examining Counties 25 through 47, followed by a comparative investment ranking to help investors identify the strongest opportunities for commercial farming, land banking, and long-term capital growth.