Monday, 12 May, 2025
Senate Committee visits Kisumu county to assess Agricultural and Fisheries Development
Kisumu CountyFriday, 9th May 2025
The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, chaired by Senator David Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma) conducted an official oversight visit to Kisumu County to assess the implementation, impact and challenges of key agricultural and fisheries programmes.
The Committee paid a courtesy call to Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, who was accompanied by senior county officials including the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and his technical team. The visit formed part of the Senate’s constitutional mandate to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of public investments and policy implementation in the devolved units.
During the visit, the Committee held detailed engagements on several critical areas affecting the county’s agricultural sector, including:
Conditional grants utilization
The Committee examined the application and outcomes of national government conditional grants allocated to Kisumu County for agricultural development. The discussions focused on fund utilization, accountability, and measurable impact on local food production systems.
County resource allocation
Concerns were raised over the relatively low budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector within the county. The Committee sought clarification on Kisumu’s budgetary priorities and urged for increased investment in agriculture to stimulate economic growth and food security.
Farmer support programmes
Deliberations addressed the county’s strategies for supporting local farmers through access to inputs, production services, post-harvest handling and market access. The Committee evaluated current county-led initiatives targeting these areas and gathered feedback from stakeholders on their effectiveness.
Fisheries and cage farming in Lake Victoria
The Committee visited Ogal Beach Management Unit, where members inspected cage fish farming activities. The purpose of the visit was to understand the scale of production, environmental regulations and the socio-economic benefits of cage fishing for surrounding communities.
Rice production and milling in Ahero
The Committee toured a county-established rice milling facility in Ahero and engaged with local farmers. Key issues raised included high input costs, limited access to affordable financing, exploitation by middlemen, high milling charges, and increased bird infestation, all of which pose serious challenges to rice production. The Committee received detailed submissions from farmers outlining sectoral needs and proposed interventions.
The Senators acknowledged the efforts made by the Kisumu County Government in promoting agriculture and fisheries but emphasized the need for stronger policy support and resource allocation.
“The Committee is committed to ensuring that counties receive the necessary support to unlock the full potential of agriculture as a driver of economic empowerment,” said Senator Wakoli.
The visit reinforced the Senate’s commitment to supporting counties through collaborative oversight and policy advocacy for sustainable development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.