Congressional Delegation Visits Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

A delegation of 15 members of Congress led by Rep. Jack Kingston (R–GA) visited Kenya in August to conduct congressional oversight related to food aid, U.S. policy and assistance for refugees, and related political and security issues in the region.

As part of the trip, the delegation visited the headquarters of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), where they were hosted by KARI Director Ephraim Mukisira, and Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kareke Mbiuki. Mukisira thanked the delegation for the U.S. Government’s long history of support to KARI, which has enabled the Institute to conduct critical research to improve both food and horticulture crops in Kenya.

The representatives met with farmers who have benefited from the adoption of new KARI technologies and have subsequently increased their incomes through improved productivity and access to new markets for their horticulture and cereal crops. They also met with senior KARI researchers and saw demonstrations of improved agricultural technologies that have been developed under Feed the Future.

While in Kenya, the delegation also met with Minister of Agriculture Sally Kosgei and her deputies, discussing some of the most successful collaborations between the U.S. Government and the Government of Kenya on horticulture, maize, and dairy programs.