Written by James Munyua and Mercy Kihugu
Nakuru County has cemented its commitment to a sustainable and climate-resilient food system with the launch of the Nakuru County Agroecology Policy, 2025.
The policy launch, presided over by Deputy Governor David Kones at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) Soilo grounds, marks a critical departure from conventional farming methods and positions Nakuru as a leader in Kenya’s ecological transition.
Nakuru County is the fifth county in Kenya to adopt the Agroecology Policy, joining Murang’a, Vihiga, Kiambu, and West Pokot in aligning its agricultural strategy with the National Agroecology Strategy 2024–2033.
Speaking during the launch, Deputy H.E. David Kones said the policy is a long-term framework designed to tackle the mounting challenges of climate change, declining soil fertility, and high production costs that have long affected local farmers.
“We are moving beyond conventional farming to secure both food and nutrition security for the county,” stated Hon. Kones
“Our farmers are struggling with expensive chemical inputs that contaminate our food and degrade our land. The Agroecology Policy will champion solutions that restore the land, make the crops more resilient to drought, and ultimately, make farming more profitable and sustainable for the people of Nakuru.”
The policy champions nature-based, farm-centric solutions, focusing on promoting natural practices such as composting, minimal tillage, and cover cropping to rebuild organic matter and enhance soil biological activity.
Additionally, the policy champions for locally-sourced alternatives like biopesticides and organic soil enrichers to lower costs and safeguard both human and environmental health, and implementation of practices like intercropping and agroforestry to enhance farm biodiversity, improve water retention, and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem’s ability to withstand erratic weather patterns, among other measures.
County Executive for Agriculture Leonard Bor assured the county’s commitment to making the policy a success.
“This is not just a document; it is a commitment. We are dedicating our resources and our full support, together with that of our partners, to the rollout and implementation of this new policy, ensuring every farmer benefits from this transition,” he affirmed.
The development of the Agroecology Policy was described as a rigorous and consultative process that ensured the framework is inclusive and responsive to local needs.
The process involved extensive consultation with
farmers and farmer groups, incorporating their indigenous knowledge and practical expertise, as well as Agricultural Extension Officers, Environmental Experts, among other partners
Also present were County Secretary Dr Samuel Mwaura, CECMs Nelson Maara (Environment), Roselyn Mungai (Health), Michael Kamau (Infrastructure), and Zipporah Wambui (Education)
Chief Officers Michael Cheruiyot (Livestock) and Eng. Margaret Kinyanjui (Agriculture), County Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairperson, Isabella Makori, leading a delegation of MCAs, among other County officials and partners.