Ruto Appoints Serem as Chairman of Agricultural Food Authority

President William Ruto has appointed Cornelly Serem as the chairperson of the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA).

Serem was appointed for a five-year term in a gazette notice from March 22, 2023.

Serem expressed gratitude to Ruto for the opportunity and promised to do his job to the best of his ability in response to the assignment.

“I thank you William Ruto for conspiring me in your government! Kongoi, I promise to discharge my duties to distinction,” he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives houses the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a State Corporation.

Its function is to control, foster, and advertise value chains for Kenya’s scheduled crops in order to boost economic growth.

The Crops Act Implementation Authority was established under the AFA Act. The Kenya Coconut Development Authority, the Kenya Coffee Board, the Kenya Cotton Development Authority, the Kenya Horticultural Crops Development Authority, the Kenya Sisal Board, the Kenya Sugar Board, the Kenya Pyrethrum Board, and the Kenya Tea Board were all superseded by the Authority.

In conjunction with county governments, the Agriculture and Food Authority’s duties include enforcing the requirements of these Acts, administering the Crops Act, choosing research priorities, and offering general guidance on agricultural research.

As well, the Crops Act may include provisions for the regulation and promotion of best practices in the production, processing, marketing, grading, storage, collecting, transportation, and warehousing of agricultural products, with the exception of livestock products.

Additionally, AFA gathers information, maintains a database on agricultural products excluding livestock products, records and monitors agriculture through player registration in accordance with the Crops Act, and provides advice on agricultural levies to the federal government and county governments for planning, fostering harmony and equity in the sector.