Agriculture Jobs in Kenya: County Posts and Salaries

Updated 2026-11-10

Agriculture is devolved in Kenya, so county governments are the biggest employers of agricultural officers, livestock officers and animal health staff, and they advertise these posts every year. Research institutes, NGOs and agribusiness companies hire too. This guide covers what each kind of employer hires, what county agriculture posts pay right now, and the registrations involved.

What county agriculture posts pay

From current official adverts (Kitui, October 2026; Makueni and Laikipia, November 2026):

Post (entry grade)	Grade	Basic salary per month
Agricultural Officer	CPSB 9 (Job Group K)	KSh 41,420 - 57,230
Livestock Production Officer	CPSB 9 (Job Group K)	KSh 41,420 - 57,230
Animal Health Officer	CPSB 9	KSh 41,420 - 57,230
Assistant Animal Health Officer III	CPSB 11 (Job Group H)	KSh 28,620 - 37,100
Animal Health Assistant III	CPSB 12 (Job Group G)	KSh 25,420 - 33,170

Officer posts take degree holders; assistant posts take diploma and certificate holders. Every grade is on the CPSB salary scales page, and county hiring is explained in county government jobs.

Other employers in agriculture

Research and state agencies: KALRO, the Kenya Forest Service and commodity agencies advertise research, extension and technical posts on their own sites.
NGOs and UN agencies (FAO, WFP and development NGOs) hire for food security, livelihoods and value-chain programmes.
Agribusiness companies: seed, fertiliser, agrochemical, dairy and export firms hire sales agronomists, field officers and quality staff. Sales agronomist roles combine agronomy with sales.
Verified open posts are listed under agriculture jobs.

Registrations and requirements

Veterinary and animal health staff must be registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board; county adverts for animal health posts require it.
Agricultural officer posts ask for a degree in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture or a related field; assistant posts for a diploma.
A driving licence (often a motorcycle licence for field extension) is a common requirement.
Public posts ask for Chapter Six documents at interview. How to get them.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an agricultural officer earn in Kenya?

County Agricultural Officer posts are graded CPSB 9 (Job Group K), with a basic salary of KSh 41,420 to 57,230 a month in Kitui’s and Makueni’s 2026 adverts. Allowances are paid on top.

Who hires agriculture graduates in Kenya?

County governments (the largest employer), KALRO and other state agencies, NGOs and UN agencies, and agribusiness companies hiring agronomists and field officers.

Do animal health jobs need registration?

Yes. Veterinary and animal health staff must be registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board, and county adverts require it.