Kenya’s beef industry sustains 10M livelihoods and earns billions. But without urgent reforms, the country risks becoming a net importer of meat.
How did we get here, and can private ranches save the day? 🧵
My wife Zahra and I are proud as parents watching our son, James Kimoi, exchanging vows today with the love of his life, Ivy Meli, and making a life-long commitment to be a loving, supporting, present and intentional husband.
As a family, we welcome Ivy into our fold. We cherish and adore her as our daughter. May God bless their union and grant them the grace to walk this journey of love together.
Today, I represented Gen. @mkainerugaba as National Vice Chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in a meeting with a Kenyan delegation led by Hon. Senator Gideon Moi, accompanied by Jack Chebet, Chairman of Stabex, and Tim Chesire, a prominent beef farmer. We discussed strengthening our long-standing relationship and explored areas of mutual interest.
Today, I represented Gen. @mkainerugaba as National Vice Chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in a meeting with a Kenyan delegation led by Hon. Senator Gideon Moi, accompanied by Jack Chebet, Chairman of Stabex, and Tim Chesire, a prominent beef farmer. We discussed strengthening our long-standing relationship and explored areas of mutual interest.
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop In my view, it’s NOT the government’s primary role to run businesses. Instead, it should focus on creating an enabling environment for private sector growth. Public ownership of ventures, especially in agriculture, often leads to inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement.
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Thanks, namesake, for sparking this important discussion on the role of government in business. Is it really the government’s responsibility to run enterprises like milk processing facilities? This question deserves a nuanced approach that balances economic principles with
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Take Uasin Gishu as a case study. The Doinyo Lessos Dairy was once a private pioneer in milk processing but struggled in a competitive market. Today, cooperatives like Milki are thriving. Supporting these grassroots models is better than diverting taxpayer money to buy businesses
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Globally, successful agricultural economies like the Netherlands and New Zealand thrive when governments act as facilitators, not operators. They invest in shared infrastructure, tax incentives, and trade support. Kenya can learn from these approaches to empower its dairy sector.
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Kenya has examples like Kenya Seed, KCC, and Unga, which started as farmer cooperatives. Today, new models like Agventure in canola farming are succeeding. Governments should focus on enabling such setups, not running businesses.
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Regional governments can support agriculture by:
1.Developing agroparks for shared facilities (e.g., dairy processors). Sadly, I saw no public support for my Mois Bridge agropark proposal.
2.Incentivizing investment via credit & grants (though corruption remains a risk).
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop 3. Simplifying licensing & offering tax waivers for target sectors like dairy & potatoes.
4. Building critical infrastructure: roads, electricity, and cold storage to lower farmer costs.
Focus on these solutions instead of acquiring commercial brands.
@TimKipchumba@geraldbitok@BuzekiKiprop Buying or running brands risks political interference and inefficiency. Instead, public funds should tackle systemic bottlenecks, enabling private enterprise to thrive. Let Uasin Gishu be a hub for agriculture, with government as a facilitator, not an operator.
No matter what we say about Mzee Moi, despite all the IMF sanctions and no KRA he still managed to build us Nyayo stadium & Kasarani stadium 41 & 37 years ago respectively. Since then nothing....we now even being forced to play our home matches in Malawi & Uganda, one of our lowest points.
Despite all our issues then as primary school kids we were given school milk across Kenya in primary school . I enjoyed that milk in class 7 before I moved to form 1.
Even hospitals had medicines , we didn't have KEMSA then while Kenya National Equipment school scheme ensured that we had enough books +++
How he managed to spread the little he could raise is something that should intrigue anyone .
BTW MPs were true waheshimiwas , salary was low but respectful and they carried themselves with alot of decorum. Mzee himself was always in smart suit and fresh boutonnière on his blazer and when he was in Mombasa a casual Mandela shirt way before Mandela made it popular.
Nostalgic indeed , I still choose to remain an optimist
Why don’t government officials ever mix with ordinary citizens?
They’re driven to/from the plane and kept separate in exclusive VIP lounges so they don’t even know how terrible the airport experience is