Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has affirmed Kenya's potential as a continental leader in horticultural innovation, endorsing the Africa Horticulture Centre (AHC) as a strategic initiative to address regional challenges and boost economic growth. The proposed intergovernmental institution, headquartered in Nairobi, aims to unify research, skills training, and technology commercialization across Africa's horticulture sector, which generates $50–60 billion annually but contributes less than 10% of the continent's agricultural GDP. Mudavadi emphasized the need for coordinated government support to transform the Cabinet's approval of the project into a functional continental institution.
Mudavadi met with Dr. Benard Chitunga, Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK), who outlined the university's readiness to incubate the AHC under the Chancellor’s Legacy Programme. The discussion focused on operational preparations and the role of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in securing continental partnerships. The Centre's four pillars—AHC Academy, HortiStat, Policy and Business Advisory, and Innovation Oasis—target fragmented research, weak commercialization, and limited market data, while fostering public-private collaborations in cold-chain systems, renewable energy, and digital platforms.
Africa's horticulture sector faces systemic barriers, including high post-harvest losses and underinvestment, despite its economic significance. Mudavadi highlighted the AHC's potential to strengthen intra-African trade through standardized policies, value addition, and data-driven market intelligence. The initiative aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area, aiming to enhance competitiveness by leveraging Kenya's existing horticultural expertise and infrastructure. The Centre's focus on climate-smart solutions and digital tools reflects a broader push to modernize the sector and improve resilience to global market fluctuations.
Mudavadi praised CUK's commitment to hosting the AHC and reiterated the necessity of cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure its success. The project, if realized, could position Kenya as a regional hub for horticultural innovation, creating opportunities for farmers, SMEs, and youth while addressing Africa's agricultural development gaps. The government's role in facilitating partnerships with research bodies, private enterprises, and international stakeholders remains critical to the Centre's long-term impact on the continent's food security and economic growth.