Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke has urged the Senate to support policy and legislative reforms initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen the sector and address the country’s food security challenges.

Speaking during a retreat of Senators in Naivasha, the PS said the Ministry has lined up a series of legislative and policy proposals which, if implemented, would significantly boost food production and enhance national food security.

Mueke represented Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe at the meeting.

He called on the Senate to ensure counties allocate at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agricultural services to spur productivity at the grassroots level.

However, the PS acknowledged that there exists a significant gap in the implementation of agricultural extension services, citing weak coordination and lack of effective liaison mechanisms between the national government and county governments.

“Agriculture is a devolved function, but there is a big disconnect in its implementation,” he said, pointing to poor coordination between the two levels of government.

He urged Senators to support the establishment of liaison offices in every ward to enhance coordination and implementation of agricultural programmes, adding that the Ministry has already set aside funds to operationalise the offices.

Among the draft Bills prepared by the Ministry and expected to be tabled in Parliament are the Veterinary Services Bill and the Animal Products and Technology Bill.

However, Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairperson David Wakoli faulted the national government for what he termed insufficient support to the sector, describing its approach as largely theoretical.

He said irrigation development has fallen short of expectations, noting that the number of dams constructed does not match pre-election pledges made by the President. He also cited fisheries and the blue economy as areas where government intervention has been inadequate.

“If you visit most of our fish landing sites, you will find that beach management committees have hardly felt the impact of government policies,” Wakoli said.

Senator Catherine Mumma questioned the frequency of intergovernmental sectoral meetings and urged the national government to support counties without encroaching on devolved agricultural functions. She also called for mechanisms to ensure counties have access to quality farm inputs.

Senator Wahome Wamatangi stressed the need for sound policies, noting that farmers are subjected to low producer prices while importers appear to be protected, leaving local producers struggling financially.

Senator Joyce Korir advocated for zero-rating animal feeds to reduce production costs, while Senator Beatrice Ogola urged the State to strengthen regulation to ensure the safety and quality of animal feeds.