Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka who doubles up as the council of governors Agriculture Chairperson has issued a stern warning to county governments participating in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) cautioning that counties which fail to meet agreed performance benchmarks risk being dropped from the multibillion-shilling programme.
Lusaka said strict adherence to project guidelines, timelines and accountability measures was non-negotiable if the project is to achieve its intended impact.
The Ford Kenya governor also emphasized that the core objective of NAVCDP is to transform the livelihoods of farmers at the grassroots level through improved productivity, market access and value addition, urging counties to move beyond planning to actual implementation.
“The focus must remain on changing the lives of farmers through effective and timely delivery of NAVCDP projects at the county level. Continued underperformance will not be tolerated and counties that fail to meet targets risk being exited from the programme,” Lusaka stated.
He challenged counties to demonstrate commitment by fast tracking implementation of approved activities, ensuring farmer focused interventions and aligning county plans with the broader national agricultural transformation agenda.
The governor further stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the management of donor funded projects, noting that mismanagement of resources could derail the project and erode public confidence.
His sentiments were echoed by Bomet Governor Benjamin Cheboi, who called for prudent financial management and measurable outcomes, urging counties to ensure that resources reach intended beneficiaries and deliver tangible value to farmers.
“We must be able to account for every shilling and demonstrate real impact on farmers’ incomes and food security,” Cheboi said.
The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe who urged counties and implementing agencies to shift from what he described as “loose arrangements” to well-structured, results oriented programmes aligned with national development priorities.
CS Kagwe also raised concerns over procurement decisions in ongoing projects, questioning their relevance and value for money and called for strict adherence to procurement laws and best practices to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
“The emphasis must be on value for money and projects that directly benefit farmers, not activities that add little impact on the ground,” Kagwe said.
