The County Government of Kitui County has disbursed a Ksh 7 million matching grant to ward-based agricultural SACCOs in Kyuso and Ngomeni wards, Mwingi North Sub-County, in a major step towards improving farmers’ access to affordable credit.
The funds were issued by the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). Five agricultural SACCOs drawn from different wards across the county benefited from the first phase of the programme.
The initiative supports Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s development agenda of empowering farmers through accessible and affordable financial services targeting members of Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs). The programme seeks to enhance agricultural productivity while strengthening value chain development.
Speaking during the disbursement exercise, Dr. Kimwele clarified that the matching grant is not a loan, but a support fund designed to build the capacity and sustainability of farmer SACCOs. He noted that the funds will enable the SACCOs to provide affordable financing to farmers engaged in production, aggregation, processing, and marketing activities.
He further emphasized that many smallholder farmers continue to struggle with expensive credit facilities, saying the ward-based SACCO model offers a more accessible and farmer-friendly financing solution at the grassroots level.
The programme also aligns with the county government’s development agenda dubbed The Kitui Promise, which focuses on strengthening farmer institutions and promoting inclusive agricultural transformation across the county.
