In a recent address, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mutahi Kagwe, shed light on the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline public institutions under the agricultural sector. While emphasizing the need for efficiency, Kagwe clarified that not all institutions are candidates for merger, citing legal, practical, and international obligations that require some to remain independent.
International mandates dictate exceptions
Kagwe highlighted the Biosafety Authority and KEPHIS (a crop and livestock health regulator) as key examples of institutions that cannot be merged. “The Biosafety Authority handles genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a role tied to strict international treaties. Similarly, CEPHIS’s mandate on crop and animal health is globally recognized. Merging them would breach Kenya’s commitments,” he explained. Such organizations, he noted, must retain autonomy to fulfill specialized roles aligned with global standards.
Mergers where possible
However, Kagwe affirmed that the Cabinet is actively pursuing mergers in other areas to reduce bureaucracy. For instance, the government is exploring how to consolidate the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and commodity-focused agencies. “Duplication wastes time and resources. Farmers and entrepreneurs shouldn’t hop between offices for related services,” he said. Mergers aim to create “one-stop shops” for stakeholders, cutting delays and operational costs.
The “Huduma” Model: Collaboration over consolidation
For institutions that must stay separate, Kagwe proposed a “huduma” approach—a unified framework to integrate services under a single access point. “Even with different mandates, institutions can collaborate structurally. Farmers shouldn’t need to visit ten offices; they should get answers in one place,” he said. This model would digitize linkages or co-locate services, ensuring seamless access without dissolving institutional identities.
Driving efficiency for farmers and businesses
Kagwe stressed that the reforms prioritize user convenience. “The goal isn’t just cost-cutting—it’s about saving time for farmers registering produce or entrepreneurs launching agribusinesses,” he said. By merging compatible agencies and harmonizing workflows for others, the government aims to boost productivity and investor confidence in agriculture, a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy.
Balancing pragmatism and obligations
The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the complexity of restructuring. “We’re threading a needle: respecting global agreements while modernizing locally. Not every merger makes sense, but where it does, we’ll act decisively,” he concluded. The strategy reflects a broader push to align Kenya’s agricultural sector with both developmental needs and international accountability.
