Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged Parliament to clear a backlog of key agriculture Bills before the country slips into the 2027 election season, saying delays could disrupt reforms that are already underway and force some legislative processes to start again in the next Parliament.
Addressing members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture during a breakfast meeting, Kagwe said there was little time left to complete the pending legislative agenda before political campaigns begin dominating parliamentary business.
"We must fast-track the passage of these Bills before the end of 2026. If we delay until the campaign period, important legislative business risks stalling, and some processes may have to begin afresh in the next Parliament," Kagwe said.
He said the proposed Bills and amendments are essential to supporting reforms in the agriculture and livestock sectors, adding that their passage will give the government the legal backing required to implement programmes aimed at increasing food production, improving farmers' earnings and strengthening agricultural value chains.
Kagwe also called for closer cooperation between the ministry and lawmakers, directing ministry officials to ensure Members of Parliament have all the information they need when considering the proposed legislation.
"I have instructed ministry officials to ensure Members of Parliament receive comprehensive, accurate and well-researched information to enable informed debate, effective policy-making and timely responses to supplementary questions in the House," he said.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, providing Parliament with reliable and well-prepared information will help lawmakers pass laws that respond to the real challenges facing farmers while supporting the government's plans to transform the agriculture sector.
The meeting brought together members of the National Assembly Agriculture Committee and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to discuss pending legislation and review ways of strengthening collaboration between Parliament and the Executive.
Agriculture continues to play a major role in Kenya's economy by providing jobs to millions of people, supporting food security and contributing to exports and manufacturing through agro-processing.
The ministry is currently implementing policy and legal reforms intended to modernise the sector, raise productivity, improve access to markets and make Kenyan agricultural products more competitive.
Among those present at the meeting were Agriculture Committee Chairperson John Mutunga, Vice Chairperson Brighton Yegon, Mpuru Aburi, Monica Muthoni, Patrick Osero, Ruth Odinga, Sabina Chege, Justice Kipsang Kemei, John Makali Okwisia and David Kiplagat.
Kagwe said continued engagement between the ministry and Parliament would help ensure the proposed laws are passed in good time and that reforms continue without interruption as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election.