Kericho County has unveiled a bold initiative to revolutionize agriculture by establishing strong, multi-enterprise cooperatives in each of its 30 wards. Spearheaded by the Department for Agriculture, the strategy aims to decentralize agricultural services, increase farmer incomes, and create new opportunities for agribusiness under the national Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The initiative was announced during a visit by senior officials from the President’s Economic Transformation Secretariat (PETS), who assessed the county’s preparedness for the rollout of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme (NAVCDP). The delegation is offering strategic support to counties implementing the flagship program.
According to County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Magerer Langat, the cooperatives will function as training centers, aggregation hubs, and distribution points for inputs such as certified seeds and fertilizers tailored to specific regions. “These cooperatives will bring services closer to the farmer,” Langat said. “We expect a rapid impact: better inputs, improved support, and more structured access to markets.”
The model particularly targets farmers engaged in mixed farming—growing crops, rearing livestock, and practicing beekeeping on the same land. By consolidating support under one roof, the cooperatives are designed to help farmers scale up their ventures and earn more from each.
In a significant move, the county is also ramping up livestock services including vaccinations, feed improvement, and breed enhancement to raise dairy productivity. SACCOs are being engaged to ensure timely payments and broaden access to credit and savings.
As a pilot, Kabianga Dairy Cooperative Society has received an additional Sh6.5 million in funding to enhance operations under NAVCDP.
Langat emphasized, “We’re not just supporting farmers we’re building an economy rooted in agriculture. The results will speak for themselves: thriving cooperatives, better production, and widespread prosperity.”
Farmers are optimistic that the ward-based approach will cut bureaucratic delays, reduce post-harvest losses, and unlock new income streams. With structured marketing and robust local support, Kericho is poised to become a model of grassroots-driven agricultural transformation.
