- Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua seeks clarity on the Government’s seed distribution plans
- ASAL farmers could use the expected rains to improve food and livestock production
- The Senator wants timely seeds, tree seedlings, pasture and extension support for farmers
Kitui County Senator Enoch Wambua has questioned the Government’s readiness to get seeds and seedlings to farmers before the anticipated above normal rainfall linked to the El Niño weather pattern.
Speaking through a statement to the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Senator Wambua argued that current preparations focus too heavily on managing the risks of the rains, while offering little detail on how the country plans to turn the wet season into a genuine boost for farm output.
For counties classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), the Senator said the coming rains represent a rare opportunity rather than just a hazard. He noted that getting certified seeds, seedlings and extension support to farmers in time is what will determine whether the season translates into higher yields or is simply survived.
Without that support, he warned, farmers in these regions risk missing a chance not only to boost production but to build resilience against the droughts that typically follow.
Wambua wants the Committee to lay out, in concrete terms, how the Government intends to procure and distribute certified, early maturing seed varieties to farmers in Kitui and other ASAL counties before rains expected in October 2026.
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He is asking for specifics on which seed varieties will be supplied, in what quantities, to which beneficiaries, and on what timeline, rather than general assurances.
The senator’s demands extend past staple crop seeds. He wants clarity on whether government plans include seedlings for fruit trees, indigenous and agroforestry species, and pasture or fodder material suited to dry land conditions.
He also raised the question of fairness in how any distribution would actually work on the ground, pressing the Committee to explain how it will coordinate with county governments, farmer groups, cooperatives and community organisations to reach remote and drought prone areas without bias.
The senator further wants assurance that farmers will receive timely, practical guidance alongside any seed distribution, covering matters such as planting dates, soil and water management, and pest and disease control, so that the anticipated rains deliver a real dividend rather than a missed opportunity.
By Benedict Aoya
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