The County Government of Makueni on Tuesday 3rd March 2026, held a high-level meeting with TradeMark Africa partners to review progress and align the next phase of the Makueni Export Supply Hub (ESH) programme.
The delegation hosted by Deputy Governor H.E. Lucy Mulili included Rodrigo Romero Van Cutsem, Private Sector Development and Trade Facilitation, Blended Finance, EU Delegation to Kenya, ?Amarins Gerlofsma, Policy Officer Economic Affairs, Embassy of the Netherlands to Kenya, Anne Nalo, Country Economist and Economic Advisor at the British High Commission, Kenya and Joan Karanja, Program Manager for Inclusive Markets and Trade Development, Embassy of Sweden to Kenya
Speaking during the meeting, Mulili commended the significant milestones achieved under the ESH framework since the signing of the partnership in May 2025, including training of thousands of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), deployment of fruit fly traps to strengthen pest control, operationalization of packhouses, and expanded linkages between farmer groups and export markets.
As part of the mission, the team conducted field visits at Greenfields Demonstration Farm and Iviani Farm both in Muvau/Kikumini Ward, and later visited the Kibwezi Packhouse to witness first-hand the impact of the programme on farmers, youth-led enterprises, and aggregation infrastructure.
The visits showcased progress in Global G.A.P. certification readiness, value addition, and strengthened export compliance systems.
Accounting for 75 percent of the county’s fruit production and supporting over 71,000 farm families, mango remains at the heart of the export strategy, with the programme strengthening aggregation, meeting international standards, and promoting value addition to cut post-harvest losses and raise farmer incomes.
The visit that was attended by TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai, CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Elizabeth Muli, and Acting Chief Officer for Agriculture Felistus Mutune, alongside key stakeholders in the horticulture value chain reaffirms county’s commitment to expanding Areas of Low Pest Prevalence (ALPP), strengthening certification systems, investing in aggregation infrastructure, and diversifying export markets to ensure sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth.
Through strengthened partnerships, Makueni continues to position itself as a leading horticultural export hub, creating jobs and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the county in line with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr\'s manifesto to economically empower household.
Directorate: Cooperative, Agriculture
Date: 04 Mar 2026 4:20pm