Former Health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe says the current agricultural sector is boring because it lacks integration of technology.
Speaking when appearing before the appointments Committee of the national assembly to defend his suitability to take up the role of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary in the Kenya Kwanza government Mutahi Kagwe highlighted the sector’s declining fortunes, coupled with outdated operational methods, as key factors discouraging youth from embracing agriculture.
“Agriculture, for the youth, must be exciting. As it stands, it’s too ordinary and boring. Youth will not engage in the sector the way it is structured today. It needs to be something more exciting, involving technology and new ways of doing things,” Kagwe stated.
According to the cabinet nominee, the resuscitation of the agricultural sectors can only be achieved when youth are involved and the farmers have been prioritized.
Kagwe said he would improve the ministry’s communication plan to counter disinformation around government initiatives in the ministry, some of which have been met with backlash by Kenyans online.
The government’s push for mass livestock vaccination, for instance, has been thorny among Kenyans and various local organizations. President William Ruto and several government officials have blamed the uproar on disinformation.
The chair of the committee speaker Moses Wetangula has allayed fears of favoring CS nominee over their long standing relationship adding that the interview will remain objective.
If approved, Kagwe will take over the agriculture docket from Andrew Karanja, whom Ruto nominated as Kenya’s ambassador to Brazil.