Agriculture Cabinet Secretary nominee Andrew Karanja has highlighted the sector’s struggles, despite its critical role in Kenya’s economy. Speaking before the Appointments Committee on Friday, Karanja expressed concern over the country’s poor performance in agriculture and its export sector.
“We are currently importing over Sh500 billion (USD 4 billion) worth of food, including wheat, rice, and edible oils,” Karanja said. He described the situation as troubling but expressed optimism that effective interventions could improve food security.
Karanja emphasized that measures such as subsidizing fertilizer could significantly boost local agricultural production and reduce reliance on imports. “With the right interventions, like providing subsidized fertilizers to our farmers, we can enhance food production and achieve national food security,” he asserted.
If confirmed as Agriculture CS, Karanja plans to prioritize food security and ensure timely delivery of high-quality agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers. “Food security hinges on the availability and quality of farm inputs,” Karanja noted.
The vetting process, chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, saw Karanja as the first nominee to be examined on the second day of hearings.
