By: Emily Mikwa
The launch of the County-led Food Systems Transformation (COFFCI) project today at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel marks a strategic milestone for Kisumu County.
The workshop formally introduced the Food Systems Financial Flow Analysis (3FS), a data-driven framework designed to map investments across agriculture, infrastructure, and nutrition to ensure a resilient food system.
While officially opening the workshop, Hon. Kenneth Onyango, CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy, detailed how the project moves beyond traditional farming.
By integrating the 3FS framework, he said the county can track every shilling from production to market, identifying funding gaps and optimizing resource allocation.
He emphasized that COFFCI aims to shift the landscape from fragmented projects to a cohesive, sustainable food economy, setting a five-year roadmap (2026–2030) that positions Kisumu as a national leader in devolved transformation.
Mr. Hamisi Williams, Assistant FAO Representative for Kenya, underscored the necessity of a multisectoral approach, noting that food security is inseparable from climate resilience.
He remarked, “A vision without action is a daydream, and action without a strategy is a nightmare,” highlighting that the 3FS framework’s value lies in bridging the gap between policy and livelihoods.
He lauded Kisumu for the proactive lead in aligning with the global “Four Betters”—better production, nutrition, environment, and life.
Madam Ruth Okowa, the Country Director of GAIN, emphasized turning policy into tangible “plates of food.” By utilizing the Kenya Food Systems Dashboard, the county can make evidence-based decisions targeting nutritious food affordability.
She advocated for empowering SMEs to reduce post-harvest losses through infrastructure like cold storage.
On his part, Anthony Burugu from the Embassy of Ireland reaffirmed that their partnership is rooted in inclusive governance and “reaching the furthest behind.”
He noted that the 3FS initiative provides the data intelligence needed to improve the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), creating a scalable blueprint for Kenya’s other 46 counties to foster a more resilient and accountable food system.
