Kenya's Agriculture is too important!

Kenya's National Assembly today voted (149 against 36) on a special motion to investigate and potentially dismiss Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mithika Linturi. Many things led to this, including the recent scandal (see the damning exposé done by?during Africa Uncensored ) involving substandard fertiliser distributed under the government's National Fertiliser Subsidy Programme (NFSP) . The NSFP has been running for a while under various governments during the Kenya Vision 2030 programming, albeit with nuanced ways of working , and is viewed as a way of boosting agricultural productivity , thus enhancing food security, providing better jobs and incomes, and contributing to the country's economy. In mature democracies, the CS would have resigned or dismissed at the earliest mention of such a scandal. I don't know what is in his or President William Ruto's mind. But I know this:

#Agriculture in #Kenya is too important to be messed with. Why? I will tell you part of the 'why'.

Kenya’s economy is strongly correlated with the country's agrifood sector. The social lives, including cultural expression, of millions of its citizens, also are linked to agriculture. The sector contributes about 60% of #Kenya's #GDP: ~33% directly and another 27% indirectly from its interlinkages with other sectors like manufacturing.

Also, #agriculture is good for other sectors of the economy. For example, it provides about 75% of the industrial raw materials, thus driving the country's industry. Furthermore, it is estimated that a 1% growth in the sector drives about 1.6% of the country's GDP. In terms of job creation, the sector is responsible for about 65% of total employment in Kenya. More than half of the population derives their livelihoods directly or indirectly from agriculture. The agricultural sector also contributes a significant chunk (~65%) to Kenya's export earnings. As you can see, Kenya's agrifood sector is quite important to the country. Thus, messing with it equals messing with the economy and the lives of millions of Kenyans.

#ClimateChange is doing enough of this mess already to the sector which is 98% rain-fed. Global response to climate change will also have further impacts on the sector. Whether by disrupting supply chains relevant to Kenya, distorting the competitiveness of the country's agricultural exports, or affecting the financial flows to develop the sector including through development assistance, the impacts of global climate change response are not (going to be) trivial. Thus, as it is, the country's agrifood sector does not need more impediments. Misgovernance and maladministration will only slow its growth and transformation and hurt the country's prospects for economic transformation envisioned in Vision 2030.

Investments in the sector need to be enhanced. Every measure must be taken to fight #corruption, bad #governance, and unfavourable policies. No effort should be spare to improve its efficiency and productivity. Because the country literally depends on it.