Bungoma ranked top in project implementation

Bungoma County has earned the prestigious Gold Award for its exemplary performance in implementation of the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

The border county was ranked first ahead of Narok and Embu counties respectively.

The accolade was announced during a ceremony held at Sarova Whitesands Resort in Mombasa, presided over by Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Andrew Karanja.

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who also serves as the Agriculture Chair for the Council of Governors (CoG), received the award on behalf of the County.

Governor Lusaka commended the County NAVCDP project coordination team, led by Rebecca Lusweti, for their exceptional performance and expressed gratitude to the World Bank partners 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, World Bank and key stakeholders in advancing agriculture,” said Governor Lusaka.

At the same time, he urged the National Assembly and Senate mediation committee on County governments additional allocations to expedite their report so as to enable Counties to access critical grants, including KSh 2 Billion from the World Bank to boost the agriculture sector.

The ceremony brought together key stakeholders to review the progress of various agricultural projects, including the NAVCDP, the Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP), and the Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP) under the World Bank.

Discussions underscored the need for collaboration to strengthen food security and empower farmers nationwide.

Bungoma County’s exemplary performance highlights the transformative impact of the NAVCDP initiative in enhancing value chains and boosting agricultural productivity.

Notable attendees included Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who is also the 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.