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President William Ruto has outlined four main tasks for the newly appointed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, to address urgent issues in the sector.

Ruto spoke during a swearing-in ceremony on Friday, January 17, 2025, at State House, where Kagwe, William Kabogo, and Lee Kinyanjui officially took office.

One of the pressing matters the President highlighted is the delay in exporting tea at the Port of Mombasa. Ruto revealed that tea shipments have been stuck at the port, affecting trade.

He urged Kagwe to immediately investigate the reasons behind the backlog and ensure that the problem is resolved. This comes after the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) recently criticized the government for interfering with the management of smallholder tea factories, which has caused price instability.

The President also stressed the importance of ensuring farmers have access to the correct type of subsidized fertilizer. 

He noted that the government had already secured enough fertilizer, but the challenge lies in proper distribution.

Ruto tasked Kagwe with making sure all farmers, especially small-scale ones, receive the fertilizer they need without any delays.

Additionally, Ruto encouraged Kagwe to expand Kenya’s agricultural export markets. The President referred to a trade agreement recently signed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which could boost Kenya’s export opportunities. Ruto highlighted the need to improve the quality of agricultural products to increase demand in international markets.

Lastly, the President focused on the importance of vaccinating livestock. Drawing from Kagwe’s successful leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as Health CS, Ruto expressed confidence in Kagwe’s ability to convince farmers to embrace voluntary livestock vaccination. However, he clarified that the campaign would remain non-compulsory.

Ruto praised Kagwe’s previous achievements and expressed trust in his ability to improve the agriculture sector. He emphasized that Kagwe’s leadership would be critical in solving challenges and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers across the country.

The swearing-in ceremony marked the start of Kagwe’s new role, with the President urging him to take swift action on these key priorities to support Kenya’s agricultural growth.