Narok County marked Kenya’s 61st Madaraka Day on June 1, 2024, with a vibrant celebration held at the William Ole Ntimama Stadium. The event, attended by County Commissioner Mr. Reuben Lotiatia, County Members of Parliament, County Assembly leaders, and Kenyans from all walks of life, focused on the theme of Agriculture and Food Security.
In his speech, Governor Patrick Keturet Ole Ntutu highlighted the historical significance of Madaraka Day while emphasizing the importance of continuing the legacy of freedom fighters by working towards national development. He hailed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for organizing a five-day pre-Madaraka Day exhibition at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma County. Narok County actively participated in this event by sponsoring 140 youths involved in agribusiness to the exhibition. The knowledge gained from this exhibition is expected to elevate the agribusiness landscape in Narok and enhance market linkages for agricultural produce.
Agricultural Sector contributes approximately 48% to the county economy and sustains the livelihoods of over 90% of the population. Governor Ntutu expressed his administration’s commitment to revolutionizing the agriculture sector. He reiterated his unwavering commitment to collaborating with development partners such as the Kenya Agricultural Business Development Program (KABDP), Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP II), De-risking Inclusion and Value Enhancement (DRIVE) program, and National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) in order to support agricultural production, development and initiatives across the county.
The Governor highlighted the NAVCDP program’s focus on youth engagement in agriculture, with 210 agripreneurs set to be trained in agricultural business opportunities and financial skills. These agripreneurs will support the public agricultural extension sector by educating farmers on good agricultural practices.
