The government has announced plans to safeguard land owned by agricultural institutions from subdivision and reallocation, citing its importance in supporting future agricultural growth, research, training, and innovation.
Speaking during the 29th Graduation Ceremony at Bukura Agricultural College, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned against the continued pressure to allocate land belonging to agricultural learning institutions and state agencies to private individuals and counties. He said such land serves as a critical reserve for future generations and is essential for the expansion of agricultural programs and infrastructure.
“Land held by agricultural institutions is under threat because we keep getting requests from citizens and counties to reallocate the land,” said Kagwe. “We cannot just give it to this generation and forget about the coming generations that will need the institutions to grow and expand. We must preserve these land banks because they do not belong to us; they belong to future generations of Kenyans.”
The CS urged graduates and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to protect public agricultural assets, describing them as strategic national investments capable of creating employment opportunities, driving innovation, and supporting agribusiness development for years to come.
Kagwe also challenged institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, including the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), and agricultural training colleges, to make better use of the vast land and infrastructure under their management.
He said institutions with significant land resources should establish sustainable income-generating ventures instead of relying solely on government funding.
“It is time for us in the agricultural sector to teach as we practice,” he said. “Through that practice, we can create an environment where we have our own profit centres. It is not right that institutions with thousands of acres of land are still seeking exchequer allocations from the national government.”
The CS questioned why institutions with extensive assets should continue depending on public funding when many smallholder farmers operate successfully on just a few acres.
“If institutions that have that much land need money from the government, what about the farmer who has two acres or less? This can no longer be acceptable going forward,” he added.
At the same time, Kagwe highlighted ongoing efforts by the ministry to increase youth participation in agriculture through the ENABLE Youth Program. The initiative aims to create opportunities for young people by equipping them with agribusiness skills, supporting the development of viable business ideas, and facilitating access to financing.
According to the CS, empowering young people to establish agribusiness enterprises has the potential to reduce rural-to-urban migration and address unemployment among the youth.
“We don’t want to train you to just become employees, but also to become employers,” Kagwe told the graduates. “Getting a job is important, but we also want to create an environment where your training enables you to create opportunities for others. Think outside the box and take advantage of the opportunities available to you.”
The graduation ceremony brought together government officials, agricultural stakeholders, faculty members, parents, and graduates in celebrating a new generation of agricultural professionals expected to contribute to Kenya’s food security, agricultural transformation, and economic growth.
By: Catherine Kamunyo
