A group of agripreneurs involved in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) in Kisii County has expressed frustration over unpaid dues, months after fulfilling their roles.
This initiative, funded by the World Bank and executed by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with county governments, was designed to support smallholder farmers and enhance agricultural data management. In Kisii, these agripreneurs were tasked with essential duties like registering farmers and updating local SACCO structures.
Despite the program being implemented in 33 counties, those in Kisii claim they are the only ones yet to receive payment, even after completing their work under challenging circumstances. They accuse the county government of violating contract terms and lacking transparency regarding the payment delays.
Although the project commenced earlier this year, it was reportedly halted in its third month, leaving participants unpaid and uncertain about their future. The agripreneurs are now seeking accountability from county officials, questioning why funds allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture have not been disbursed to them, asserting that their completed work deserves timely compensation.
“Good morning, Nyakundi. Kisii County government, in collaboration with WORLD BANK, came up with a project through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Production under NAVCDP. It was launched across 33 counties in Kenya through the National Government to County Government. The project could benefit basically small-scale farmers and the formation of SACCOs where WORLD BANK could dispatch GRANTS with the help of some AGRIPRENEURS who could assist the farmers in registration of new farmers and updating the existing ones. The programme was sub-divided into three key stages where each AGRIPRENEUR could be paid according to the contract:
BOOTCAMP (2 MONTHS) 10k
INCUBATION (10 MONTHS) 15k
COMMERCIALIZATION (6 MONTHS) 5k
The programme kicked off in February. Although the county government didn’t adhere to the contract agreement on payment, they breached the contract agreement—they didn’t pay the AGRIPRENEURS according to the contract. After further consultation, they agreed, although in the third month of the project, the project was called off and the AGRIPRENEURS were never paid during the month of May.
Why is Kisii County denying the AGRIPRENEURS their peanuts yet they worked mercilessly? Other 32 counties have paid—why is only Kisii County having problems when it comes to payment? AGRIPRENEURS demand to know why they haven’t been paid since May, and the funds were received early enough by the Ministry of Agriculture.”
