The Council of Governors led by H.E. Rt. Hon. Kenneth Lusaka Chair, Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives committee and H.E. Issa Timamy, Chair Blue Economy Committee held an induction for the newly appointed County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and County Chief Officers in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, from 16^th to 20^th January 2023 in Mombasa.

The meeting was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Salim Mvurya, Principal Secretary for Blue Economy, Ms. Betsy Njagi, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Livestock, Mr. Harry Kimtai, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Development partners including World Bank, Embassy of Sweden in Kenya, and the private sector.

Speaking during the official opening of the Induction, H.E. Rt. Hon. Kenneth Lusaka noted that the induction was indeed timely and crucial in appraising the CECMs and County Chief Officers on emerging issues in the sector, relevant legislative frameworks and their roles as stipulated in the Constitution. “I urge all CECMs and COs to play a leading role in the implementation of programmes in the sector. Let us prioritize projects and programmes that promote sustainable blue economy and agricultural practices that safeguard the environment for the benefit of present and future generations”, he added.

“There is a need for both levels of government to work together to ensure full implementation of sector policies and legislation and improve access to irrigation, agricultural mechanization, and credit for farmers”, added CS Mvurya during a media briefing.

The induction meeting also featured the launch of the National Value Chain Development projects (NAVCDP), a World Bank funded project set to be implemented over the next 5 years in 26 Counties. The project seeks to increase market participation and value addition for target farmers in select value chains in project areas.

Addressing the press on the sidelines of the Blue economy sector induction held on 23^rd and 24^th January 2023 in Mombasa, H.E. Issa Timamy emphasized the need to align programmes and projects with priority areas in the County to avoid duplication and maximize on available resources.

“Let us work toward creating impactful programmes that will positively transform the lives of our people, create employment and address the real challenges derailing the sector”, said H.E. Issa Timamy noting the huge potential that lies untapped in the sector.

CECMs and County officers in charge of the agriculture and blue economy sectors were inducted on among others: food security; objects of devolution in Kenya; unbundling of the agriculture function; blue economy sector in the County perspective; development partners’ interventions and projects and; sector planning; budgeting and service delivery.

It was resolved that: there is a need for strengthened intergovernmental coordination between the National and County Governments, including co-creating projects and programmes; the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries and the Council of Governors to review the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development project and the Aquaculture Business Development Program and; the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs to work with the County Governments to establish fishing landing sites and fish markets along the coastline.