• Willy Bett, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
• Chairman Council of Governors Peter Munya
• Governors
• Distinguished guests
• Ladies and gentlemen

Mabibi na mabwana,

Hamjambo!

I am honored to join the Cabinet Secretary, all the Governors here and representatives of various stakeholders in the agriculture sector for this important conference.

This conference represents one of the most important shared goals of the governments of the United States and Kenya: to transform the lives of millions of Kenyans by ensuring that they live in food secure households, eat nutritious foods and have opportunities for sustainable prosperity within their communities.

This is the vision of Kenya 2030, and this is the vision supported by U.S. President Obama’s Feed the Future global hunger and food security initiative.

From 2013 to 2017, the U.S. Government has made a $225 million dollar investment in inclusive agriculture-led economic growth and the expansion of markets and trade in Kenya. We believe that agriculture is a driver of development.

Think of young farmers across Kenya such as James Onyuka in Kisumu County. He explains what he learned during a USAID-funded training, “It was great to learn about the productivity of different dairy breeds, cross-breeding benefits, fodder production and conservation and milk value addition.”

After the training he was able to improve his practices so that he started earning a profit of 42, 000 Kenya Shillings. Within two years, the cows calved and increased James’ herd from two to five.

James—and many other young producers like him—have enormous potential to be both the leaders and beneficiaries of agricultural growth. Smallholder farmers across the country are embracing change, trying new methods and taking a leap of faith by borrowing money to invest in agriculture. It is those smallholder farmers who are the engines driving Kenya’s economic growth.

But the success does not stop there. James’ milk—and milk from other dairy farmers like him—is now bringing essential nutrition to school children. Children, who will learn, grow and prosper. Children, who will become the next James, tech entrepreneur, Governor or President. Children, who are the backbone of Kenya’s future.

The development of the dairy sector and the school milk program is a strategic collaboration. Through USAID’s Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises Project (KAVES), we have supported the concept of a sustainable school milk program in Kenya, worked with the county governments to set up the relevant policies and legislations, and partnered with the Kenya Dairy Board to implement it.

USAID is also pleased to have been the lead sponsor of the “Dairy Has It All” campaign that educated consumers on the benefits of milk consumption and created more demand for milk.

Expanding the school milk program into more counties will also increase demand. And that helps everybody along the milk value chain. As animal feeding practices continue to improve, fodder producers will realize improved markets for their hay. Producers and vendors of farm machinery will continue to sell more units. Fabricators and vendors for feed storage and animal shelters will enjoy increased demand for their products.

And beyond the impact of an improved dairy industry, and perhaps more importantly, is the potential positive impact that the school milk program has on Kenya’s most valuable resource, its children.

Milk provides both calcium—which is essential for bone development—and protein—which improves muscle growth. History has shown that school attendance increases when school feeding programs are in place. Students who are not hungry will learn more efficiently and the rate of normal mental and physical development will increase.

By investing in early childhood nutrition, we are also bolstering the performance of children in schools. USAID works in partnership with the Ministry of Education to support the early literacy program in every school in the country, and together we know that good nutrition improves learning and increases student’s potential for success in throughout their lives.

The result of these strategic interventions—in partnership with the Government of Kenyan at both county and national levels and private sector partners—is our shared vision: a generation of well-educated, healthy Kenyans ready to take on whatever challenges their futures hold.

More than 105,000 children are already benefiting from the school milk program--80,000 in Migori County and 35,000 Mombasa County. We look forward to the spread of the school milk program to every county and every school.

Working together, we can expand the school milk program for the double benefit of improving farmers’ livelihoods and promoting children’s health. With U.S. President Obama’s signing of the bipartisan Food Security Act, we are confident that the United States will remain a strong partner with Kenya.

A healthy, food secure Kenya is possible, and I applaud the commitment of the Kenyan people and the Government of Kenya to making that vision a reality.

Thank you.