By Selina Chiteri

Proven to be an existential threat in Kenya, corruption has been Kenya’s obstacle to prosperity for years on end. It is entrenched in almost every sector of the country. The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) whose fate is currently being canvassed at the Court of Appeal is premised to offer comprehensive and solid solutions to the perennial problem. Agriculture is one industry that’s bound to witness an overhaul on how business is run. The Initiative is bound to be a big win for farmers in the sector by reviving and restoring their main source of livelihoods back to their hands and further boost the country’s food basket.

The BBI report has sweeping recommendations targeting the agricultural sector and further seeks to introduce reforms that, if implemented, could go a long way in salvaging it.

BBI notably seeks to eradicate the “pests” in the sector by introducing tough punitive measures against them. It specifically proposes that corruption among those implementing agriculture and livestock-impacting projects be treated as a priority in anti-corruption efforts. It calls for the strengthening of the prosecutorial capacity of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to deal with such suspects, and stipulates that the Judiciary devises ways of expediting such cases or capping their timeframe as is the case with election petitions.

“Focus seriously on breaking cartels in this sector. Expand investment in agriculture and livestock and direct anti-corruption efforts in the sector to break up the cartels that hold farers hostage. Most people rely on agriculture and there is no quicker way to lift people out of poverty,” reads a section of the report.

It also recommends that the Competition Authority addresses price fixing and anti-trust undertakings that stifle competition.

With emphasis laid on the power of information, BBI further seeks to improve market linkages for farmers to enable them gain a greater share of the retail price through information sharing. To achieve this, it calls for the establishment of institutions responsible for market linkages for farmers.

Other proposed interventions include the revival and revamping of the Kenya National Trading Corporation, having the government partner with private sector to provide mentorship support to farmers, cutting out middle men, putting in place and strengthening online trading systems, the enhancement of livestock breeding, provision of measures for disease control of livestock as well as the improvement of cold chains, innovative harvesting and preservation systems such as food banks and cold storage.

The BBI report also targets to promote cottage, manufacturing and labour-intensive industries/sectors (agriculture, livestock and fishing) through the gradual adoption of technologies that increase productivity. This will, again, lead to job creation through the various industries while providing more business opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. Furthermore, the Initiative proposes capacity building, creation or improvement of infrastructure, funding, tax incentives and facilitating marketing among other interventions that would support these sectors.

Agricultural productivity is also set to be boosted through the implementation of crucial strategic plans, among them the National Agriculture Investment Plan: Towards sustainable Agricultural Transformation and Food Security in Kenya – 2019-2024, the National Agribusiness Strategy as well as the Kenya Youth Agribusiness Strategy 2017 -2021.

The relevant authorities are expected to provide the public with regular monitoring and impact assessment reports in respect to the implementation of these strategies put in place to enhance agricultural production and value addition.

Other measures proposed to lift the agricultural sector include revamping and strengthening of relevant existing agencies, among them Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Agriculture Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), which were established to boost the sector through research.

All these interventions proposed through the BBI are meant to effectively eradicate the numerous cartels reigning in the industry and aligning the sector towards profitability because besides being the country’s food basket, it is a major source of livelihood for a majority of Kenyans across the county.

If allowed to proceed, the BBI will ameliorate the Agricultural sector, as it will do to many others. Let the courts not deny the sector the much needed relief.

Ms Chiteri is a communications consultant and graduate student in corporate communication. [email protected]