By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 20, 2026 - The government will take measures to safeguard land owned by agricultural institutions from subdivision and reallocation, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said.
Speaking during the 29th Graduation Ceremony of Bukura Agricultural College, Mr Kagwe warned that land held by agricultural training institutions and state-owned agricultural agencies is increasingly under pressure from requests for redistribution, despite its importance for future expansion and development of the sector.
He said the land serves as a strategic reserve for future generations and should be preserved to support agricultural research, training, and production.
"Land held by agricultural institutions is under threat because we continue receiving requests from citizens and county governments to reallocate it. We cannot dispose of land needed by future generations to grow these institutions. We must protect and retain the land banks we have in the agricultural sector. This is not our land; it belongs to future generations of Kenyans," said Mr Kagwe.
The CS called on graduates to become champions in protecting public agricultural institutions and assets, describing them as strategic national investments that will create jobs, drive innovation, and generate business opportunities in the years ahead.
Mr Kagwe also challenged institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, including the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), and agricultural training colleges, to make better use of the vast land and infrastructure under their control to generate sustainable income.
He said institutions with large tracts of land should reduce their reliance on government funding by establishing profitable ventures that can support their operations.
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"It is time for us in the agricultural sector to teach through practice. Through that approach, we can create profit centres within our institutions. It is not right that institutions with thousands of acres of land continue to depend entirely on exchequer allocations. If such institutions still need government support, what about the farmer with two acres or less? This can no longer be acceptable going forward," he said.
The Cabinet Secretary further highlighted the ministry's efforts to empower young people through the ENABLE Youth Programme, which seeks to create opportunities for youth participation in agribusiness.
The programme provides training, incubation, and financing support to help young entrepreneurs develop viable agribusiness ventures and access sustainable sources of funding.
According to Mr Kagwe, the initiative has the potential to reduce rural-to-urban migration and address youth unemployment by creating opportunities within the agricultural sector.
"We do not want to train young people only to become employees. We also want them to become employers. While getting a job is important, there are many opportunities in agriculture that can enable young people to create businesses and employ others," he said.
The graduation ceremony brought together government officials, agricultural stakeholders, lecturers, parents, and graduates to celebrate a new cohort of agricultural professionals expected to contribute to Kenya's food security, agricultural transformation, and economic growth.