By Agwanda Saye
The County Government of Kisumu marked a pivotal moment in regional development by officially handing over the newly constructed Pap Konam Agricultural Training Centre to the National Government. Located in Pap Konam Village within West Seme Ward, the facility has officially become the tenth campus under the Kenya School of Agriculture. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o clarified that the strategic decision exemplifies constitutional devolution and cooperative governance, choosing collaborative partnerships over parallel structures and duplicated expenditure.
Under this practical arrangement, the County Government fulfilled its responsibility by making the primary capital investment in land and modern infrastructure. In turn, the National Government, through the Kenya School of Agriculture, will supply academic leadership, specialized research, technical expertise, and institutional capacity. Governor Nyong’o emphasized that running a premier training institute requires decades of experience in curriculum development and professional certification. Partnering with national specialists guarantees institutional sustainability and academic excellence while ensuring local taxpayers are not burdened with high recurrent operational costs.
The integration of the center into the national system promises extensive benefits for local producers, extension officers, and young agripreneurs who will access nationally accredited training. Specialized instruction will focus on key regional value chains, including rice production, fisheries and aquaculture, dairy management, poultry, horticulture, indigenous vegetables, irrigation, and climate-smart agriculture. Furthermore, ongoing professional development for extension officers alongside local demonstration farms will accelerate the adoption of modern technologies, shifting local practice from traditional farming to competitive commercial enterprise.
Beyond technical education, the presence of the national campus is set to stimulate the local economy in Seme through increased demand for housing, transport, food, and commercial services generated by incoming students, researchers, and instructors. The landmark event brought together key national and county figures, including Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Kiprono Rono, Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo, and Finance CECM George Okong’o. Together, the leaders reaffirmed that aligning local capital with national expertise provides the ultimate foundation for sustainable economic transformation and food security.
