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Mt. Kenya region mainly comprising Meru Central and parts of Nyeri and Laikipia counties.
Aberdares and Eastern Rift Valley, mainly comprising of Nyandarua and parts of Nyeri, Kiambu and Nakuru
counties.
Mau region comprising Bomet, Kericho, Narok and parts of Nakuru county.
Mt. Elgon, comprising Elgeyo Marakwet, Bungoma, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties.
Others highlands, such as Taita hills in Taita Taveta county in the southern border of Kenya and Tanzania
(Kaguongo, 2010).
Figure 2 Potato growing counties in Kenya (MoALF, 2016)
Other emerging potato growing areas include Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nyamira and Kisii counties (Figure 2).
Due to increased demand, potato production has expanded to non-traditional potato growing areas such as
Kirinyaga, Naivasha and Tana River. This is possibly due to availability of irrigation facilities (MoALF, 2016).
Despite the importance of potato in Kenya, its production has been declining in recent years (Figure 3); this is
mainly due to lack of good quality seeds and, pests and diseases (Muthoni and Nyamongo, 2009; MoALF, 2016);
low and erratic rainfall accompanied by high temperatures which are occasioned by climate change are also
emerging threats.
Figure 3 Trends in potato production in Kenya (FAO, 2014)
