Governors seek to control funds for irrigation projects

Governors want the national government to cede control of funds set aside for irrigation to the counties. This, the governors said, would allow counties to boost agriculture.

The county chiefs said the national government is frustrating their efforts to develop agriculture by withholding allocations for the sector. They made the remarks during Devolution Conference last week.

Governors Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Nderitu Gachagua (Nyeri), Ken Lusaka (Trans Nzoia) and Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), said the government had also refused to let go key functions in the sector such as the procurement of fertiliser and seeds.

“What is money for irrigation doing in Nairobi? It should be moved to counties because that is where agriculture is practised. It is the reason agriculture was devolved,” said Mr Gachagua, who is the chairman for the governors’ agriculture committee.

Mr Gachagua said a Bill that would compel national government to give counties irrigation funds in form of conditional grants is in the pipeline.

“If a project of irrigation is worth Sh100 million, let it be given to counties as a conditional grant belonging to that specific project,” said Mr Gachagua, who chaired a panel on food security.

FOOD SECURITY

The governors said the government should only hold a maximum of 20 per cent of all the money set aside for irrigation.

The National Irrigation Board had in the last budget received Sh6 billion to run its projects across the country. The governors said the allocation was too little for a segment that is the backbone of Kenya’s economy.

Outgoing Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto said the country has been unable to prevent hunger in drought-prone counties because of failure by the national government to fully devolve agriculture functions according to Schedule Four of the Constitution.

“The real answer to the myriad questions is to transfer everything regarding agriculture to counties,” said Mr Ruto.

He noted that irrigation projects run by the national government take too long to be implemented.

However, Dr Sammy Letema, the National Irrigation Board chairman, told Smart Company that it would be impossible to fully transfer irrigation projects since they fall under food security, which is a function of the national government.

He said counties lack the capacity and personnel to undertake the role.

“In fact, the projects in Turkana failed after we left them in the hands of county governments. They did not support it professionally,” he said.

However, he said the board is working on an intergovernmental policy that would see the transfer of some functions, which counties can run.

“We want to give them 200 acres and below to manage but we will have to first do feasibility and designs before leaving them to manage. We have invited the governors to contribute to that law next month,” he said.

Governor Chepkwony said the allocation to agriculture should be increased so that counties can shoulder the burden of food security.

“We should also engage in inter-county trade so that counties, which have shortage in certain things can buy from their neighbours,” said Prof Chepkwony.

NEGATIVE GESTURE

Mr Gachagua faulted the Agriculture ministry for not sending a representative to the conference to address their concerns.

“If I were the President, I would be really sad at this negative gesture by the ministry. In a forum like this, none of his principal secretaries is here,” he said.

“Other than general policies like Agricultural Development Strategies and Vision 2030, there are no other policies to provide finer details on how to practice agriculture like dairy farming and crop nurturing,” he said.

He said Affa and Crops Act currently being used was not aligned to the constitution.

“It gives national government all function and leaves out counties. The country does not have farmer intervention at heart. Maize, tea, coffee, sugarcane…all farmers are crying. Both levels of government need to make a commitment to help the situation,” said Mr Gachagua.

Mr Ruto said the demand for Kenyan produce was huge: “People want our sorghum, sweet potatoes and tea. What we want is only to strategize for better trade.”

He also said the shadow of sugar cartels was is in the departments at the national government “and its why the farmers are crying about fluctuation of market prices”.