Waiguru Okays upgrading of Kamweti ATC

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has approved the upgrading of the Kamweti Agricultural Training Centre.

This is after she assented to the Kirinyaga County Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centre Act, 2023 on Wednesday.

Kamweti ATC will be upgraded to an Agricultural Technical Vocational Education Training centre.

As a result, obligations, all rights, assets and liabilities belonging to ATC at Kamweti shall be moved to the ATVET centre.

The new act empowers the county to increase its funding to the institution and improve its services and infrastructure.

 “The act also provides for the establishment of Kirinyaga County Agricultural Institutions Revolving Fund to cater for operational, commercial and development activities,” Waiguru said.

Majority Leader David Kibinga, county assembly deputy speaker Jinaro Njamumo and other MCAs witnessed the signing.

Other than offering training on pertinent agricultural technologies, the institution upon establishment, will provide conference facilities, organise and host agricultural exhibitions and development aspects.

“It will also preserve and improve access to information and knowledge in agriculture and other development matters,” Waiguru said.

 “It will also provide facilities for research, trials and bulking sites on relevant technologies and promote agribusiness in the agricultural sector.”

The ATVET centre will be managed by a Board of Management.

The BOM will consist of a non-executive chairperson appointed by the governor while other members of the board will be Agriculture chief officer, Finance chief officer and five farmers representing the five subcounties.

There will also be one member drawn from an agricultural research organisation in the county, a youth and a person living with disability while the institution’s principal shall be an ex-officio member and secretary of the board.

 The county government will deploy staff at the center.

“To ensure standards, quality and relevance of training, the board shall liaise with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority and establish standards and benchmarks for training.  It shall also administer policies and guidelines that govern the establishment and accreditation of the center,” Waiguru said.

Kibinga, on behalf of MCAs, said they were committed to promote the working relationship between the assembly and the executive.