Kajiado MCAs raise alarm over collapse of agricultural mechanization services

The Kajiado Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of agricultural mechanization services following the adoption of a report by the Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Joseph Mutunkei.

The Committee’s oversight findings paint a troubling picture of neglect, mismanagement, and loss of critical public assets meant to support farmers across the County.

Members noted with concern that the agricultural mechanization centre in Kitengela has been heavily vandalized, with operations having stalled for over five years due to lack of financial support. In a further twist, the facility has reportedly been unofficially taken over, with its offices converted into residential quarters.

The MCAs also questioned the status of key machinery owned by the County. Out of five tractors stationed at the Kajiado Demonstration Farm, two are grounded while three are operational but have been hired out under unclear circumstances. Additionally, of the three county bulldozers, two have been vandalized and one reportedly stolen, raising serious accountability concerns.

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Equally alarming is the collapse of revenue streams and training functions. The Kajiado County Agricultural Training Centre has seen its revenue plummet from Ksh 702,080 in 2015 to zero in recent years, rendering it unable to execute its mandate due to lack of funding.

Members further observed that despite the County having adequate post-harvest storage facilities, these remain largely underutilized. A mobile maize dryer donated to support farmers in Kajiado South has also been left idle at the Loitoktok Cereal Board for over a decade, now considered obsolete.

Debating the Motion, Members strongly condemned the state of affairs, terming it a clear case of mismanagement of public resources and a disservice to the farming community. They called for urgent interventions to restore functionality, safeguard public assets, and ensure accountability within the Department of Agriculture.

By Our reporter

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