Bungoma County has clinched the prestigious Gold Award for its exceptional implementation of the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), outperforming Narok and Embu counties. The announcement was made during a ceremony in Mombasa, presided over by Dr. Andrew Karanja, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who also serves as the Agriculture Chair for the Council of Governors (CoG), received the award on behalf of the county. Speaking at the event, Governor Lusaka commended the county’s NAVCDP project coordination team, led by Rebecca Lusweti, for their outstanding performance. He also expressed deep gratitude to the World Bank for their continued support in transforming the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our farmers, and the collaborative efforts between the county government, the World Bank, and key stakeholders in advancing agriculture,” said Governor Lusaka.
As the Agriculture Chair for CoG, Governor Lusaka also called on the National Assembly and Senate mediation committee on county governments’ additional allocations to expedite their report. This would enable counties to access critical grants, including KSh 2 billion from the World Bank, to further boost the agriculture sector.
The ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the agriculture sector to review the progress of various projects, including the NAVCDP, the Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP), and the Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP) under the World Bank. The discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening food security and empowering farmers across Kenya.
Bungoma County’s remarkable success serves as a shining example of the transformative power of the NAVCDP initiative, which has played a crucial role in enhancing agricultural value chains and increasing productivity. This achievement underscores the potential for agricultural development to significantly improve the livelihoods of farmers and contribute to national food security.
Notable attendees at the event included Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Vice-Chair of the Council of Governors, World Bank Senior Agriculture Economist Ghada Elabed, and the 47 County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Agriculture and Finance, who were all part of the discussions on agricultural development.
