Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a renowned non-profit organization, has defended its petition urging the National Assembly of Kenya to pass legislation that would allow the agricultural sector to benefit from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). The petition aims to divert part of the funds towards developing irrigation infrastructure in Kenya’s arid regions, enhancing food security and boosting agricultural productivity.
SHOFCO’s Advocacy Lead, Boniface Gatobu, presented the petition on Monday before the Public Petitions Committee (PPC) chaired by Turbo MP Janet Jepkemoi Sitienei. During the presentation, Gatobu emphasized the potential of the proposed amendments to address key challenges facing the country, including poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
“If this petition is adopted, food insecurity will be a thing of the past. There are areas in this country with fertile land that don’t receive enough rainfall for productive agriculture. We need to amend the law to allow the agricultural sector to benefit from the RMLF,” Gatobu stated.
The petition proposes amending existing laws, including the Irrigation Act (No. 14 of 2019), the Kenya Roads Board Act (No. 7 of 1999), and the Road Maintenance Levy Fund Act (No. 9 of 1993), to create a more diversified funding framework that supports agriculture alongside road maintenance.
Redefining Fund Priorities
Gatobu noted that SHOFCO operates in 40 counties across Kenya and has identified regions that would greatly benefit from the RMLF if it were allocated towards irrigation infrastructure. He questioned the current prioritization of road projects, suggesting that funds could be better utilized to support a larger number of Kenyans through agricultural development.
“Why prioritize roads that serve a few car owners when we could use the funds to build dams that support many farmers? Roads are important, but diversifying the RMLF to support irrigation would give Kenyans the chance to grow food for local consumption and export, thereby boosting national revenue,” Gatobu argued.
However, PPC Vice Chair Hon. Sitienei raised concerns about the suitability of reallocating the RMLF, given its primary focus on road maintenance. She questioned why SHOFCO had not first sought funding from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, which oversees the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).
“We know water projects fall under the Ministry of Water, and funds are allocated to the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) for such tasks. Why do you need RMLF funds, which have no connection to NIA?” Sitienei asked.
In response, Gatobu explained that SHOFCO’s initiatives are driven by community needs and feedback. He cited the cost-benefit comparison between road and irrigation projects, arguing that reallocating some of the RMLF funds to agriculture would have a broader impact on the general population.
“For example, the ABC-Redhill Ring Road costs Ksh 4 billion and serves about 5,000 cars daily, while Thiba Dam in Kirinyaga County supports 50,000 rice farmers. We believe reallocating some RMLF funds to agriculture would have a broader impact on ordinary Kenyans,” Gatobu said.
Proposed Legislative Changes
SHOFCO’s petition calls for the renaming of the RMLF to the “Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Levy Fund,” allowing the fund to support both road and irrigation infrastructure. Additionally, SHOFCO advocates for the inclusion of the National Irrigation Authority as a fund beneficiary alongside existing road authorities.
The organization suggests that the funds be equally distributed among all 290 constituencies, with each receiving at least Ksh 100 million for irrigation projects, which would enhance agricultural productivity across Kenya.
Supporting Kenya’s Agricultural Sector
According to the 2022 Kenya Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, agriculture contributed 22.4 percent to Kenya’s GDP, highlighting its significance as the country’s largest economic sector. SHOFCO has been actively supporting farmers across various regions, including Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Nyanza, and the Coast.
In March 2023, SHOFCO provided certified maize seeds worth over Ksh 50 million to more than 50,000 farmers in Trans Nzoia, Siaya, Kisumu, and Nyeri counties. Further supporting its commitment to agriculture, SHOFCO launched 40 water pans in Siaya County to boost irrigation efforts. SHOFCO Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede emphasized the importance of sustainable farming, stating, “Embracing agroecology, fish farming, and sustainable farming practices is about securing a resilient future for generations to come.”
As part of a pilot program, SHOFCO has built 157 water pans across Kenya to assist farmers in dry regions in adopting smart farming practices. The petition represents a bold step towards transforming Kenya’s agricultural landscape by leveraging existing infrastructure funds for broader developmental goals.
