The agricultural input supply chain in Elgeyo Marakwet County has received a significant infrastructural upgrade following the completion of a new cereal storage and distribution facility in Embobut-Embolot Ward, Marakwet East Sub-county.
The facility, constructed under the county’s integrated agro-logistics development programme, is designed to streamline the distribution of subsidised fertilisers, certified seeds, and other critical farm inputs to smallholder farmers. It replaces the previous centralised model that relied solely on the Kapsowar depot.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich noted the milestone is part of a broader decentralisation strategy aimed at decongesting central stores and reducing access latency for remote farming communities.
“When I came into office in 2022, we had only one operational input store in the entire county,” he said, adding, “As of today, we have completed 18 stores, each designed to reduce the logistical burden on farmers and improve last-mile delivery of agricultural support.”
Governor Rotich emphasised that the objective is to achieve full ward-level coverage. “The remaining wards are already at advanced stages of construction, and we are on course to have a functional facility in every ward,” he added.
The Embobut-Embolot store incorporates modern input storage standards, including ventilated sections for fertilisers and weather-resistant structural finishes to ensure long-term sustainability, whereas County agricultural officers based in the ward will oversee inventory management and monitor equitable access under the e-voucher system.
Governor Rotich reiterated that the administration remains committed to enhancing rural infrastructure to support commercial agriculture, youth engagement, and value chain competitiveness.
“This investment is not just about storage,” he concluded. “It’s about building a resilient, efficient, and farmer-centred agricultural ecosystem.”
By Rennish Okong’o
