The Senate has raised serious concerns over the continued grabbing of land belonging to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), warning that the trend threatens the country’s food security and agricultural research capacity.
The Senate Agriculture Committee, chaired by Bungoma Senator David Wakoli, singled out KALRO as the most affected institution, noting that encroachment on its land was undermining vital research and production efforts. Speaking during a visit to the KALRO research station in Naivasha, Senator Wakoli revealed that unscrupulous traders, working in collusion with rogue government officials, were behind the illegal acquisition of KALRO land.
“KALRO’s land is critical for national food security and agricultural development. We are committed to working with the Ministry of Lands to catalogue all such land and ensure they are properly documented with title deeds,” said Wakoli. He added that the Senate would not allow research institutions to be crippled by land disputes and budgetary neglect.
Despite financial constraints, the Naivasha KALRO station continues to support farmers across several counties through its partnerships with devolved governments. These collaborations have led to the supply of subsidized chicks, pigs, and other agricultural inputs to boost food production at the grassroots level.
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda called for amendments to the KALRO Act of 2013 to grant the organization greater autonomy and access to resources. “KALRO has the potential to transform agriculture in this country. With more funding and legal backing, it can ensure Kenya becomes food secure,” he stated.
Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi decried the scale of land grabbing, revealing that out of the 3,000 acres at the Naivasha research station, nearly half had been illegally acquired by individuals, with cases stalling in court.
KALRO Director Samuel Mbuku acknowledged the challenges, citing drought, rising input costs, and diseases. However, he affirmed the institution’s commitment to resilience through climate-smart technologies and ongoing collaboration with development partners.
The Senate has vowed to protect agricultural research land and push for more funding to safeguard Kenya’s food future.
