Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock
The Ministry main goal is to increase agricultural productivity and attains food self-sufficiency through sustainable use of natural resources for economic growth
Mission
To provide effective technical agricultural services and information to farmers, fisher folks and other stakeholders in the county through participatory appropriate extension and other suitable methods in order to enhance food and nutrition security.
Vision
A food and nutrition secure county.
Our Minister
Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele is a seasoned business administrator and Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) with over 14 years of experience across healthcare, energy, finance and public sectors. He currently serves as the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock in Kitui County, where he leads initiatives in agricultural transformation, food security and rural economic development.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kimwele has held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including positions at Mwahila Mission Hospital, Ganjoni Hospital and Port Florence Community Hospital. His expertise spans financial management, organizational development and policy reform.
He holds a Phd in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Nairobi, an MBA in Finance from Egerton University and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Dr. Kimwele is an active member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and a certified dowry negotiator in East Africa.
Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, PhD, CPA-K
County Executive Committee Member
Jonathan Kyambi Nzau
Chief Officer
Livestock Development and Apiculture
Glady Mami Wambua
Chief Officer
Agriculture and Fisheries
Linkedin
How we achieve our goals
Departments
Agriculture and Fisheries
The department mandates includes Crop development & food
security; Farm development & Agribusiness; Agriculture Extension and advisory services.
In addition, the department promotes aquaculture, agricultural mechanization, agricultural
training and Agriculture planning and policy development
Livestock and Apiculture
The department mandates includes:-Livestock production & marketing, Veterinary services, Veterinary public health, Livestock breeding and apiculture development
Fostering Sustainable Development
Our Responsibilities
Agriculture department
Our responsibilities include:
- Shape and implement agricultural policies & programs.
- Deliver extension services & manage food security.
- Support farmers with inputs, information, and markets.
- Promote sustainable practices and partnerships.
Water department
Our responsibilities include:
- Manage water policies & resources.
- Implement national & county water legislation.
- Ensure water provision for urban & rural areas.
- Develop & manage irrigation systems.
Livestock department
Our responsibilities include:
- Shape & implement livestock policies & programs.
- Deliver extension services & manage animal health.
- Promote livestock production & marketing.
- Ensure animal disease control & regulations.
Fisheries department
Our responsibilities include:
- Manage fisheries policies & programs.
- Deliver extension services & enforce regulations.
- Promote sustainable aquaculture & fish trade.
- Ensure fish health & certification.
Fostering Sustainable Development
Achievements
Water access
Significantly reduced time taken to reach water points from 60 to 45 minutes through increased boreholes, rehabilitation, and pipeline projects.
Culture
The County targeted to increase the area under irrigation to 700 hectares, but exceeded this target by reaching 2,054 hectares.
Green Gram Production
The County aimed to increase hectares on green grams production annually to 94,500, but exceeded this target by reaching 117,800 hectares.
Mango Farming
The County aimed to increase the number of households growing mangoes to 45,000, but surpassed this target by reaching 48,079 households.
Sorghum Farming
The County aimed to increase the number of households undertaking sorghum farming to 85,000, but surpassed this target by reaching 98,000 households, thus improving livelihoods and food security through targeted interventions
Overall, the county government made significant strides towards improving water access, increasing agricultural productivity, and enhancing food security and nutrition. These achievements were attributed to the successful implementation of various programmes and interventions across the county.