Farmers across the country are expressing their frustration over the ongoing sale of livestock by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), accusing the research institution of irregularities and unfair practices. The annual livestock sale, intended to support local farmers by providing access to high-quality breeding stock, has become a contentious issue this year, with many farmers feeling sidelined by the process.
The sale, which is meant to offer livestock and poultry that are no longer needed for research purposes, has been ongoing for the last month across various KALRO research stations. However, farmers have raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process, claiming that it has been dominated by a few powerful individuals who have manipulated the system for personal gain.
One of the most vocal critics, Paul Ole Koilel, a local farmer, has highlighted the exclusionary nature of the sale. “For years, we have been locked out of the sale while a few individuals with connections are able to secure all the livestock,” Koilel said. He called on the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture to intervene, arguing that the sale no longer benefits local farmers. “The sale is meant to benefit farmers from Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, and Laikipia, but all the breeding bulls have been sold to one farmer in Transmara,” he added.
The controversy came to a head at the KALRO center in Naivasha, where drama unfolded as local farmers were locked out of the sale, unable to purchase the bulls they had hoped for. According to Koilel, the situation was particularly frustrating because the farmers had arrived with cash in hand, only to discover that all the best livestock had already been taken by a single individual. The farmers allege that this practice has been going on for the past decade, with the rich and powerful exploiting their connections to dominate the sales and prevent ordinary farmers from accessing the animals.
James Were, another farmer involved in the protest, echoed Koilel’s sentiments. “We came here with the required cash only to learn that some powerful people in the country had driven away all the quality breeds,” he said. Were believes that the situation has worsened over the years, with the sale becoming increasingly skewed in favor of a select few.
The frustration over the livestock sale is compounded by ongoing issues surrounding the national vaccination program for livestock. Farmers claim that misinformation and political interference have undermined the effectiveness of the vaccination efforts. Koilel, Were, and other farmers believe that the government needs to engage more effectively with farmers to address their concerns and ensure that agricultural programs serve their intended purpose.
Daniel Kireison, a farmer from Gilgil, added that the perception of favoritism at KALRO was a major reason why many farmers are rejecting the government’s proposed national livestock vaccination program. “This is one of the reasons livestock farmers are rejecting the planned national livestock vaccination as government exercises are marred with fraud,” Kireison said. He argued that the national institutions responsible for supporting farmers should be impartial and work to benefit all stakeholders, not just a select few.
In response to the accusations, a senior KALRO officer, who requested anonymity, denied the allegations of favoritism. The officer explained that the annual sale of livestock is a routine process where research breeds are disposed of, and sometimes the number of animals available is limited. “At times, the numbers are low, and in the process, some miss out,” the officer stated. While acknowledging that some farmers might be disappointed by the limited number of animals, the KALRO official emphasized that the sale is open to all and that no one is intentionally excluded.
Despite these reassurances, the ongoing controversy has fueled a growing sense of distrust among local farmers, who feel that the system is stacked against them. As the sale continues, the calls for intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture are expected to intensify, with farmers hoping for greater transparency and fairness in the future. Until then, it seems that the tension between KALRO and the farming community will persist, with many questioning the institution’s commitment to supporting all farmers fairly.
