𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who also chairs the Council of Governors’ Agriculture Committee, has urged development partners to align their agricultural investments with county systems to boost impact and eliminate duplication.

Speaking on behalf of all governors during the second and final day of the Agriculture Stakeholders’ Meeting in Naivasha, Lusaka said that Kenya’s devolved structure demands that resources “follow functions,” noting that agriculture is fully domiciled at the county level.

Lusaka warned that donor-funded programmes that bypass counties risk undermining implementation, creating parallel structures, and fading out once partners exit.

“Counties must be involved from the very beginning. Programmes should be co-designed, co-created and delivered through county systems to ensure equity, sustainability and real impact at the farmer level,” he said.

He also raised concern over delays in approving the County Additional Allocations Act, which slows down implementation of key agricultural projects. Lusaka called for the creation of alternative disbursement mechanisms to ensure counties access funds in time.

The governor proposed stronger joint planning frameworks, pooled funding models, and unified monitoring tools to harmonize agricultural programmes across the country. He further urged development partners to strengthen county institutions rather than set up standalone project units.

As the meeting closed, Lusaka emphasized that every shilling,whether from national government, counties, or development partners,must translate into meaningful transformation for farmers.

“Kenya’s intergovernmental system offers the perfect platform for partnership. Our goal is simple: impactful, coordinated and farmer-centred agricultural development.”

The Naivasha forum marked the end of a two-day dialogue bringing together county leaders, national government officials and agriculture sector stakeholders.