MAKUENI, Kenya — The government has officially broken ground for the construction of a Sh90 million Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA) campus in Makueni County, a project expected to strengthen agricultural training and innovation in the Lower Eastern region.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held at Kwakathoka on Tuesday, was presided over by Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono and Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
Once completed, the facility will become the 10th campus of the Kenya School of Agriculture and is expected to admit its first students when the initial phase opens in November.
Boost for Agricultural Skills and Innovation
The new campus is expected to provide practical agricultural training to farmers, young people and agripreneurs, equipping them with modern farming techniques aimed at improving productivity and enhancing climate resilience.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Mutula described the project as a significant investment in Makueni’s agricultural future.
He said the institution would serve as a centre for agricultural research, innovation and technology transfer while helping local farmers adopt modern farming practices suited to changing climatic conditions.
“The campus will empower our farmers and young people with the skills they need to embrace modern agriculture while contributing to economic growth in the county,” the governor said.
Mutula also noted that the project would stimulate the local economy by creating employment opportunities during construction and after the institution becomes operational.
He urged the contractor to prioritise local labour and source construction materials locally to maximise benefits for residents.
Government Hails National-County Collaboration
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono said the project was secured through sustained engagement between the State Department for Agriculture and the Makueni County Government.
He commended Governor Mutula’s leadership, describing the campus as an example of successful collaboration between the national and county governments.
Rono said agriculture remains central to Kenya’s economic transformation and encouraged young people to view farming as a profitable business rather than merely a traditional occupation.
“Agriculture is not just about farming; it is an economic enterprise that can create jobs, generate income and drive development,” Rono said.
Students to Benefit From UK Internship Programme
The Principal Secretary further revealed that students enrolled at the Makueni campus will have opportunities to participate in an existing partnership with the United Kingdom government, which offers paid agricultural internship programmes abroad.
According to Rono, the programme will expose trainees to advanced farming technologies and international best practices while enhancing their technical skills and employability.
Supporting Kenya’s Agricultural Transformation
The Kenya School of Agriculture campus is expected to play a key role in supporting farmers and agripreneurs across Lower Eastern through practical training, knowledge transfer and innovation.
The project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand agricultural training institutions, strengthen technical capacity in the sector and promote value addition, productivity and job creation.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by national and county government officials, including Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Damaris Kavoi.
