The Murang’a County government has rolled out a pilot digital system for the distribution of certified maize seeds and fertilizer, targeting about 135,000 farmers registered under the Inua Mkulima programme.
County officials say the initiative is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability in the allocation of agricultural inputs, marking a shift from the traditional school-based physical distribution model that has long been criticised for overcrowding, long queues and weak accountability, especially during the festive season.
County Secretary Newton Mwangi said the pilot was introduced to address these inefficiencies and to ensure farmers access inputs in a more orderly and dignified manner.
“The county government has, for a long time, faced challenges with the physical distribution of maize and fertilizer. This digital system allows farmers to redeem their items within their communities, significantly reducing congestion, delays and disputes,” Mwangi said.
He said the system was first tested through a Christmas and New Year goodwill package, during which eligible residents received wheat flour, allowing the county to assess its effectiveness ahead of the full rollout for maize seeds and fertilizer.
“We deliberately used the festive season to test this model because that is when congestion is usually at its peak. The results have been encouraging, with thousands of farmers redeeming their items smoothly within a short period,” he added.
Under the new model, farmers collect their allocations from approved local merchants near their homes, rather than travelling to centralised distribution centres.
About 33,000 farmers, roughly 25 per cent of the targeted beneficiaries, had successfully redeemed their inputs within five days, largely without queuing.
Mwangi explained that farmers can access their supplies through two redemption options. One involves presenting an official SMS from the county government containing a unique redemption code to an approved merchant for validation.
“Alternatively, farmers who may have deleted the SMS or blocked promotional messages can redeem their items using their National Identity Cards, which are photographed and uploaded into the system for verification,” he said.
He noted that lessons drawn from the pilot phase will guide the full digital rollout of the Inua Mkulima programme.
“This is only a pilot scheme, but the lessons we are learning will guide the county, even as we move towards a fully digital, transparent and farmer-friendly system for distributing maize, fertilizer and other essential inputs,” he opined.
Farmers who have participated in the pilot say the new system has improved convenience and reduced congestion. Annah Wanjiku, a farmer from Kambirwa, said the digital approach was easy to use and allowed farmers to collect their inputs at their convenience.
“This system has really helped us because there is no pushing or confusion like before. We can get our supplies calmly and without the commotion that used to happen in the field,” Wanjiku said.
Gabriel Wachira, a Murang’a resident and beneficiary of the programme, said the new approach had brought order and transparency to the process.
“Previously, there was a lot of congestion and disorder during distribution, but this time around, everything appears well-organized. Getting the items from nearby shops has saved us time and reduced the chaotic nature witnessed in the earlier arrangement,” Wachira said.
