Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba. Photo/HandoutGithunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has blamed tensions over devolution and inadequate county funding for livestock management for the challenges facing Kenya’s dairy sector.
Wamuchomba said counties lacked sufficient resources to manage livestock services effectively, including disease control, leaving farmers to fend for themselves.
Speaking on Wednesday, the MP criticised the devolved management of livestock, arguing that inadequate budgetary allocations had undermined efforts to sustain the sector.
“From where I sit, livestock management in Kenya is just a fallacy,” Wamuchomba said.
“The counties have been left to manage livestock, especially the dairy sector, and the sector is collapsing.”
She said the situation would worsen because of disagreements over national government funding of devolved functions and inadequate county budgets for livestock management.
“It will continue collapsing because there are two competitions. One, the governors are not comfortable with the national government financing and funding some of the functions,” she said.
“On the other hand, the governors don’t have enough budgets allocated for livestock management and disease control. Therefore, the farmers are left to fend for themselves.”
Wamuchomba cited Kiambu County as an example, claiming it had not received sufficient support from the national government to address challenges facing dairy farmers.
“For instance, in Kiambu, the county has not received enough support from the national government. Instead, they [counties] were told to sign for a loan,” she said.
The MP further claimed that the county governor had declined to sign the proposed financing arrangement because of the financial burden it would impose.
“The last time I followed, our governor had declined to sign, because he is being burdened,” she said.
Her remarks highlight questions over the financing of devolved livestock services and the resources available to counties to support farmers and control animal diseases.
