Makueni is set to become a major agricultural training and innovation hub in Lower Eastern after construction of a Sh90 million Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA) campus began in the county.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono and Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo presided over the groundbreaking and laying of the foundation stone for the campus at Kwakathoka on Tuesday.
The facility, which will be the 10th branch of the Kenya School of Agriculture, is expected to open its first phase by November and equip farmers, young people and agripreneurs with practical skills to improve productivity and embrace modern farming technologies.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Mutula described the project as a major investment in the people of Makueni, particularly the youth and farmers who require specialised skills to respond to changing agricultural practices and markets.
He said the campus would serve as a centre for agricultural innovation, research and technology transfer while helping farmers adopt practices that can improve resilience to climate change.
Mutula said the institution would also contribute to the local economy through employment opportunities, increased business activity and new investments associated with its construction and operations.
He urged the contractor to prioritise local workers and construction materials to ensure residents benefit directly from the project.
Rono said the project was secured following sustained lobbying by the county government through the State Department for Agriculture.
The PS commended Mutula for what he described as his hands-on approach to development, saying the project demonstrated the benefits of collaboration between national and county governments.
He said agricultural development remained central to Kenya's economic transformation and challenged young people to change their perception of farming and embrace agriculture as a viable business.
“Agriculture is not just about farming; it is an economic enterprise that can create jobs, generate income and drive development,” Rono said.
The PS also said students at the new campus would have opportunities to benefit from an existing partnership with the UK government offering paid agricultural internship opportunities abroad.
He said such programmes would expose trainees to modern farming technologies and practices while enhancing their skills and employability.
The Makueni campus is expected to provide training in agriculture while supporting farmers and agripreneurs in the Lower Eastern region through knowledge transfer and practical skills.
The project comes as the government seeks to expand agricultural training institutions and strengthen technical capacity in the sector, particularly among young people.
Rono said investment in agricultural skills was necessary to increase productivity, promote value addition and create employment opportunities while supporting sustainable economic growth.
The groundbreaking was attended by various national and county officials including Agriculture CEC Damaris Kavoi.
