Kenya has launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Country Council to accelerate the transformation of its agriculture sector, aiming to boost productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and connect global innovation with local farming systems.
Kenya has officially launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Country Council, marking a significant step in positioning the Country as a continental leader in agricultural innovation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and bioengineering.
Under the theme “The Convergence of Intelligence: Strategic Investments in AI and Bioengineering for a Resilient Agricultural Future,” the launch, held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Auditorium in Nairobi, brought together senior government officials, global agriculture leaders, researchers, investors and agribusiness executives to explore how converging technologies can unlock productivity, resilience, and inclusive growth across Kenya’s food systems.
With climate change disrupting planting seasons, trade barriers constricting supply chains, and a rapidly growing population demanding more food, Kenya faces an urgent need to scale both the quality and quantity of agricultural production.
The WAF Kenya Country Council has been launched to bridge the gap between policy ambition and on-farm reality, creating integrated investment pipelines that pair digital intelligence with biological innovation.
Driving a new era of agricultural growth
Speaking during the launch on behalf of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Professor Shaukat Principal Secretary State Department for Science, Research and Innovation in the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Office, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative, stating:
“As we formally launch the Kenya Country Council of the World Agriculture Forum, we are doing more than inaugurating another institution. We are declaring that Kenya is ready to lead the ‘Convergence Decade’. The future lies in the synergy between Digital Intelligence and Biological Intelligence. AI can tell a farmer when to plant, but bioengineering gives that farmer the seed that will survive regardless of the season.”
He added that the initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the AI Strategy 2025–2030, and Continental frameworks such as CAADP and Agenda 2063, with a clear focus on delivering measurable outcomes including increased yields, improved farmer incomes, and socio-economic transformation.
A platform for action, not just dialogue
WAF Global Executive Director Dr. M.J. Khan emphasized that the Forum will serve as a catalyst for shaping the future of global food systems.
“WAF is committed to providing thought leadership and setting the agenda for food systems growth in the face of global challenges such as trade barriers, climate change, and population pressures. Data is the new fertilizer, and through our global councils, we aim to harness it to drive smarter, more resilient agricultural systems,” said Dr. Khan.
The WAF platform will operationalize its mission through flagship initiatives including the Global Soil Health Coalition, Global Digital Agriculture Council, Global Sustainability Council, and the Trade and Food Security Council.
Strengthening research and local innovation
Welcoming delegates to ILRI, Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration in transforming agriculture.
“This partnership reflects over a year of collaboration between WAF and ILRI focused on advancing food security, improving agricultural practices, and reducing poverty. The launch of the Kenya Country Council strengthens our shared commitment to translating science and innovation into real impact for farmers,” he said.
Unlocking value for farmers through technology
Dr Oscar EV Magenya, the WAF Kenya Country Director, added: “The launch of the WAF Kenya Country Council marks a shift from conversation to implementation bringing together government, investors and researchers to deliver real solutions for farmers. This is not just another council, but a mechanism to turn global best practices into local impact, driving higher productivity, improving farmer incomes and building a more resilient, technology-powered food system.”
The launch also featured insights from industry leaders on how digital tools and innovation are already transforming farming on the ground.
Timothy Wanjohi, CEO of Market Farm Ltd, emphasized the role of technology in improving farmer outcomes:
“We are seeing first-hand how digital platforms, AI-driven advisories, and solar-powered solutions can reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access, and increase profitability for farmers. The opportunity now is to scale these solutions and ensure they reach every farmer who needs them.”
A Clear Roadmap for Impact
The WAF Kenya Country Council will focus on building integrated pipelines for agricultural innovation, fostering public-private partnerships and engaging county governments as key drivers of implementation.
By 2028, the Council aims to establish a proven, scalable model that connects global investors to local agricultural innovation, accelerates adoption of AI and bioengineering solutions, and strengthens Kenya’s position as a hub for agri-tech convergence.
The first County Council meeting will be held within 30 days to set up technical working groups, focusing on aligning regulations, developing financing models, and creating safeguards to protect farmers while making AI easier to understand and use-KBC.
The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.
Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.
“Lately, there’s been a lot of misleading information circulating online about the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill. Let’s cut through the propaganda with the actual facts,” Parliament said.
Bill was published in June 2025
The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.
It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.
According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.
Bill currently before the National Assembly committee
The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.
The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.
What happens after public participation?
After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.
Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.
The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.
This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.
Bill will be forwarded to Senate
The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.
Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.
The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.
Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.
This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.
As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.
Reemio Head of Business Njoki Kimani said the platform was created to eliminate many of the frustrations associated with conventional house hunting by connecting verified landlords and renters through a digital marketplace.
“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.
Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.
Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.
“The digital space has become the next logical place for house hunting. We’re removing the stress of moving from one house to another physically while helping people avoid misleading listings and unnecessary costs.”
Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.
The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.
In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.
The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.
According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.
The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.
The second proposed party, People’s Alternative Voice (PAV), has adopted purple, gold and white as its official colours. Its party symbol is a shofar, while its slogan is “Sauti Mbadala-Haki, Usawa na Maendeleo.”
The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.
The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.
Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.
The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.
After meeting the statutory requirements set out in the Political Parties Act, including demonstrating national character and fulfilling membership thresholds, the parties may apply for full registration, which grants them legal recognition to field candidates in elections and access benefits available to registered political parties.
Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.