For years, Kenyan non-state actors (NSAs) in the agriculture sector – input suppliers, producers, research and academic institutions, civil society and agribusiness, and women and youth – have struggled to find a way to speak with one voice about how to strengthen agriculture in the country. In recent decades, umbrella organizations representing these actors have been established and advocated for specific interests. However, no single group has worked to align and coordinate all the various groups through a unified agenda. That is until, the emerging and nascent stage organization the Agriculture Council of Kenya (AgCK) stepped forward as a unified voice for dialogue and engagement. Africa Lead, the US government’s Feed the Future capacity building program, supported the AgCK in strengthening its early formation of institutional structures and policy engagement processes.
In November of 2016, AgCK launched its 2016-2021 strategic plan. This strategic plan came as a result of three months of wide-reaching consultations and institutional strengthening support from Africa Lead to the nascent stage interest group. Additionally, Africa Lead provided technical facilitation support for initial consultative meetings to distill policy issues on six priority value chains across the Kenyan agriculture landscape.
“What we lack in this country is a platform to get all the farmers involved in articulating their issues, I am not saying we don’t have institutions in this country that don’t work, especially now that we have a devolved system of government. The problem has been that unifying factor to look at the very specific issues at the specific levels,” said Justus Mochache Monda, the Chairman of the Pyrethrum Growers Association of Kenya, speaking at the launch of AgCK’s strategic plan in Nairobi. “So the formation of the AgCK is going to give a bigger voice, a bigger platform at which we can put our thoughts together to address specific issues, affecting target subsectors of agriculture in Kenya.”
Dr. John Mutunga, the chairman of the AgCK & Dr. Andrew Tuimur, The Principal Secretary The State Department of Livestock officially launch the AgCK Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021.
As the organization continues to establish itself, the launch of its strategic plan was a critical milestone in establishing the role of the organization nationally. AgCK’s overall goal is to improve Kenya’s agricultural contribution to socio-economic development and provide an opportunity for sector stakeholders to effectively engage in agricultural development dialogue, specifically the long-standing agricultural reform agenda. The strategic plan articulates the Council’s vision, mission, objectives and activities. The plan also proposes appropriate governance and management structures to steer its implementation as guided by member approved strategic objectives and thrusts.
The Council is organized and managed by an Interim Steering Committee in consultation with sector stakeholders, and supported by Africa Lead. Formed to fill gaps in the sector’s agricultural reform consultations, the AgCK is also committed to transforming agriculture, by building broad and inclusive coalitions to improve the sector’s performance as the principal convener of Kenya’s agricultural NSAs. The early stage organization recognizes that the effectiveness of NSAs can be enhanced by improving their legitimacy and representation.
The AgCK is quickly gaining ground as the convener and consultations facilitator for non-state actors in Kenya’s agriculture sector, with the aim of progressively improving agriculture sector contribution to economic development through collaboration.