Nairobi: Kenya’s agricultural sector is undergoing a strategic shift in the way extension and advisory services are delivered, as stakeholders across the country rally behind the Kenya Agricultural Sector Extension Policy (KASEP) 2023. Leonard Kubok, Deputy Director in the Crop Resources Management Division at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that the policy, developed collaboratively by the national and county governments alongside partners in research, agribusiness, and civil society, aims to harmonize efforts, improve service delivery, and strengthen the agricultural value chain and promote stronger research-extension linkages.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking during the Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services- Kenya (KeFAAS) 3rd National Agricultural Extension conference, Kubok said that the KASEP 2023 policy offers a structured framework for national and county governments to collaborate in delivering agricultural extension services. “KASEP clearly defines the roles of each government level,” Kubok explained. “The national government retains policy development and oversight, while county governments are responsible for implementation on the ground. It includes an implementation framework with short, medium, and long-term targets.”
Kubok noted that the policy also addresses critical cross-cutting issues such as climate change, inclusivity, and quality assurance. “We must ensure youth, women, indigenous communities, and resource-poor farmers are not left behind. Inclusivity is a thematic area under the policy. It also introduces accreditation standards for extension providers because currently, anyone can claim to offer extension services without professional qualifications,” said Kubok.
Despite the policy progress, Kubok acknowledged persistent challenges in actual service delivery, most notably an ageing workforce, limited recruitment, and insufficient infrastructure. “The last significant recruitment of extension officers was in 2008. Many counties are struggling due to budget constraints, which hamper the onboarding of younger, energetic staff and the provision of essential tools such as vehicles and digital devices,” he said.
Kubok highlighted that succession planning has been another gap where there has been no structured plan to replace retiring officers, which has weakened service delivery. KeFAAS Country Focal Person for Kenya Peter Mwangi said that to bridge personnel gaps, they are working with partners in promoting digital extension services through youth-led innovations.
Mwangi cited examples from Murang’a County, where young agripreneurs are delivering extension through mobile platforms and field visits. “These digital connectors are complementing public services and increasing farmers’ access to timely information. Our goal is to support young people in using tech to scale impact,” said Mwangi.
On the issue of climate change, Mwangi emphasized the importance of local participation in shaping climate resilience strategies. “We have conducted climate hearings in communities to understand changes from their perspective. With unpredictable weather patterns, we are helping farmers adopt drought-resistant crops and make informed planting decisions through climate-smart technologies,” Mwangi explained.
Mwangi disclosed that for years, stakeholders in the agricultural space have operated in isolation, where public, private, NGO, and donor-funded initiatives have lacked coordination, and this has limited farmers’ access to comprehensive services. “This is the reason we are holding this national conference which is geared towards forging a unified system that delivers end-to-end support to farmers,” he said.
Mwangi emphasized the need to break institutional barriers and align stakeholder efforts. “Operating in silos means farmers miss out on vital innovations. If we integrate services, farmers will receive a holistic package from input supply and climate information to financial services and technical training,” said Mwangi. The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, county extension officers, agripreneurs, and farmers to discuss coordination across the fragmented agricultural extension landscape.