About the Department
Background
The Department of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock, Fisheries & Blue Economy traces its roots to the devolution of agricultural functions to county governments under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Since 2013 it has grown into a full county department with dedicated directorates and extension networks reaching every ward.
The county economy is anchored on agriculture and fisheries — rice, sugarcane, cassava, cotton and Lake Victoria fish stocks — and the department exists to translate that natural advantage into household income, food security and agribusiness growth.
Legal Mandate
The department derives its mandate from:
- The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (Fourth Schedule, Part 2)
- The County Governments Act, 2012
- The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Act, 2013
- The Crops Act, 2013
- The Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2016
- The Animal Diseases Act, Cap 364
Constitutional Functions
- Agricultural extension and farmer advisory services
- Food security monitoring and response
- Animal control and livestock husbandry
- County abattoirs and livestock sale yards
- Plant and animal disease control
- Fisheries and blue economy development
Core Responsibilities
- Formulating and implementing county agricultural policy
- Delivering extension, training and advisory services to farmers
- Regulating markets, abattoirs and produce movement
- Promoting value addition, agribusiness and market linkages
- Coordinating input subsidy and mechanisation programmes
- Coordinating disaster and disease response in the sector
A food-secure, prosperous county powered by modern, sustainable agriculture
Purpose
To transform livelihoods by delivering efficient extension services, enabling policy and inclusive market systems that raise productivity across crops, livestock and fisheries.
Core Values
Integrity
Honest, ethical conduct in every transaction and decision.
Accountability
Responsible use of public resources with clear reporting.
Professionalism
Technical excellence and respect in service delivery.
Innovation
Embracing new methods, data and technology.
Teamwork
Collaboration across directorates and with partners.
Inclusivity
Services accessible to all, including youth, women and PWDs.
Transparency
Open processes, published data and clear communication.
Sustainability
Protecting resources for future generations.
Departmental Leadership
Meet the executive and technical leadership steering the department’s mandate.
Hon. Willis Okoth Ochieng
Professional Profile
Key Responsibilities
- Policy formulation and county sector oversight
- Representation in the County Executive Committee
- Accounting Officer for the departmental budget
- Stakeholder and intergovernmental liaison
Mrs Elizabeth Adongo
Professional Profile
Mrs. Adongo is an accomplished policy strategist and public sector leader with over two decades of experience spanning governance, public policy, institutional development, and community development. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health and Health Promotion from Brunel University London and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing from the University of Reading.
Key Responsibilities
- Day-to-day administration of the department
- Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holder
- Supervision of directorates and field officers
- Implementation of the departmental work plan
Directorates & Units
Select a directorate to view its mandate, objectives, functions and team.
Crop Development & Food Security
Mandate
To promote sustainable crop production, extension services and post-harvest management.
Objectives
- Increase average yields per acre
- Expand access to certified seed and inputs
- Reduce post-harvest losses by 20% by 2027
Functions
- Farmer training and demonstration plots
- Soil testing and fertility management
- Pest and disease surveillance
- Coordination of subsidy programmes
Team
Livestock Production
Mandate
To improve livestock productivity, animal health and dairy value chains.
Objectives
- Reduce livestock disease incidence by 30%
- Increase average dairy yield per cow
- Modernise two county abattoirs
Functions
- Vaccination and disease control campaigns
- Artificial insemination services
- Meat and dairy inspection
- Licensing of livestock traders
Team
Fisheries & Blue Economy
Mandate
To develop and regulate aquaculture and fisheries for sustainable production.
Objectives
- Double registered fish farmers by 2028
- Establish five model aquaculture sites
- Improve fingerling quality and supply
Functions
- Fish farming extension and training
- Pond and cage culture licensing
- Water quality monitoring
- Fish market and handling standards
Team
Agribusiness & Mechanisation
Mandate
To promote value addition, mechanisation and market access for producers.
Objectives
- Establish four mechanisation service centres
- Link 10,000 farmers to structured markets
- Support 15 value-addition enterprises
Functions
- Tractor and equipment hire services
- Value addition and agro-processing support
- Market information and linkage
- Agri-finance facilitation
Team
Find a Service
Search or filter services by category. Download the relevant application form where available.
| Service | Description | Target Users | Application Method | Timeline | Fees | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Advisory & Extension Visit Advisory |
On-farm technical advice from an extension officer. | All farmers | Ward extension office | 5 working days | Free | |
| Seed & Input Subsidy Application Registration |
Application for subsidised certified seed and fertiliser. | Smallholder farmers | Ward extension office | Seasonal window | Subsidised rate | |
| Livestock Movement Permit Permits |
Authorisation to move livestock across boundaries. | Livestock traders, farmers | Veterinary office | 1–2 working days | KES 500 | |
| Abattoir / Slaughterhouse Licensing Licensing |
Annual licensing for operation of slaughter facilities. | Abattoir operators | County portal | 21 working days | KES 15,000 p.a. | |
| Meat Inspection Certification Certification |
Health certification of meat for sale in county markets. | Butcheries, traders | On-site inspection | Same day | KES 300 per inspection | |
| Fish Farming Permit Permits |
Permit to operate pond or cage aquaculture in the county. | Aquaculture farmers | County office application | 10 working days | KES 2,000 | |
| Agrovet / Input Dealer Licensing Licensing |
Licensing for retail sale of agricultural and veterinary inputs. | Agrovet businesses | County portal | 14 working days | KES 8,000 p.a. | |
| Crop Pest & Disease Diagnosis Advisory |
Diagnostic support and treatment recommendations. | Crop farmers | Sample submission at office | 3 working days | Free | |
| Artificial Insemination Service Advisory |
Subsidised AI service to improve dairy breeds. | Dairy farmers | Request via veterinary officer | 1–2 working days | KES 1,500 | |
| Tractor & Mechanisation Hire Advisory |
Hire of county ploughing and harvesting equipment. | Farmers, groups | Mechanisation service centre | Seasonal booking | Subsidised hourly rate |
Departmental Projects
Dairy Modernisation Project
Upgrading milk cooling and collection infrastructure across 12 wards.
Aquaculture Value Chain Support
Demonstration fish ponds and fingerling hatcheries in five sub-counties.
Digital Extension Platform (KilimoLink)
SMS and app-based advisory connecting farmers to extension officers.
County Abattoir Rehabilitation — Phase I
Refurbishment of the town abattoir to meet public health standards.
Certified Seed Distribution Drive
Subsidised certified maize and bean seed reached 38,000 households.
Climate-Smart Irrigation Scheme
Solar-powered drip irrigation for horticulture clusters.
County Feedlot & Sale Yard
Modern livestock holding, feeding and auction facility.
Flagship Programmes
Capacity Building
Continuous training for officers and community champions.
Youth Empowerment
Internships, grants and mentorship for young people.
Women Empowerment
Targeted access to opportunity, credit and markets.
Public Participation
Ward forums, budget hearings and citizen feedback.
Climate Action
Climate-resilient planning and greening initiatives.
Digital Transformation
e-Services, open data and automated workflows.
How Our Work Aligns
Every departmental initiative is anchored in county, national and global development frameworks.
CIDP Alignment
Directly implements the sector priorities of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023–2027.
- Sector programme delivery
- Ward-equitable investment
- Food security and value chains
Annual Development Plan
Translates CIDP priorities into costed annual work plans and budget proposals reviewed each fiscal year.
- FY 2026/27 costed workplan
- Ward-level project prioritization
Sustainable Development Goals
Aligns departmental targets with the global goals adopted by Kenya.
- Measured SDG indicators
- Gender-responsive programming
Governor’s Manifesto
Delivers on the commitments made to residents in the county leadership manifesto.
- Flagship commitments tracked quarterly
- Published delivery scorecard
Performance Contract
Annual targets are cascaded from the CECM through directors to individual staff appraisal.
- Service delivery KPIs
- Quarterly public reporting
Intergovernmental Coordination
Aligned with national sector policy and coordinated through the Council of Governors’ sector committee.
- Joint national–county programmes
- Donor & partner coordination
Documents & Resources
Browse official department documents organised by category.