Kenya’s Principal Secretary launches World Agriculture Forum Country Council
Date: 2026-04-30
By: Robert Kwaku Annor
Kenya’s
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and
Innovation, Shaukat Abdulrazak, has launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF)
Kenya Country Council, positioning it as a key platform to advance
innovation-driven transformation of the country’s agricultural sector.
The
launch took place at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),
where Abdulrazak represented Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. The
event brought together stakeholders from government, research institutions, the
private sector, and the farming community.
In
remarks delivered at the event, the Principal Secretary emphasized that Kenya
is ready to lead a new phase of agricultural development driven by the
convergence of science, technology, and innovation. He highlighted the growing
role of artificial intelligence and bioengineering in modern agriculture,
noting their applications in precision farming, climate-resilient crop
development, livestock improvement, and advanced diagnostics.
Abdulrazak
stated that Kenya is positioning itself as a continental hub for agricultural
innovation through initiatives such as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation
Agenda (BETA), the National AI Strategy 2025–2030, and ongoing reforms in
biotechnology and biosafety policy.
He
underscored the need for Africa to transition from being primarily a consumer
of externally developed technologies to becoming an active co-creator of
solutions tailored to local contexts. According to him, locally driven
innovation is critical to reducing import dependence and strengthening
resilience across food systems.
