Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe on Thursday hosted a delegation from the East African Grain Council (EAGC), led by Head of Programs Jacinta Mwau, alongside representatives from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), FIPS Africa and other development partners. The delegation paid a courtesy call to brief the Governor on preparations for the upcoming Lower Eastern Agribusiness Expo set for July 30, 2026, at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU).
The meeting also reviewed the implementation progress of the RE-GAIN Project in Kitui County, a three-year AGRA-funded initiative being implemented jointly by the County Government of Kitui, FIPS Africa and the East African Grain Council. The project targets 60,000 smallholder farmers across Kitui South, Kitui Rural, Kitui West, Kitui East, Kitui Central, Mwingi West and Mwingi Central sub-counties by promoting improved post-harvest handling technologies, food loss reduction solutions and structured market linkages.
According to the partners, the project adopts a farmer-centred approach involving Village-Based Advisors (VBAs), agro-dealers, county extension officers, private-sector suppliers and farmer organizations. The initiative seeks to reduce post-harvest losses, improve storage, drying and aggregation infrastructure, expand access to climate-smart financing and strengthen market access while making food loss reduction technologies more affordable and accessible to farmers.
Governor Malombe reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with development partners to transform agriculture in Kitui County. He noted that strategic partnerships such as the RE-GAIN Project are critical in enhancing food security, reducing post-harvest losses and creating sustainable economic opportunities for farmers, in line with the county’s agenda of promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable economic development.
The Lower Eastern Agribusiness Expo is expected to bring together farmers, agribusiness stakeholders, development partners, researchers and policymakers to showcase innovative agricultural technologies, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen value chains aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and resilience across the region.
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