Kari merged with 3 others to create research body

The Ministry of Agriculture has formed an institution to manage the research and livestock sub-sectors.

The formation of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Karlo) follows the merging of key research agricultural bodies.

Announcing the change, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said Karlo was formed after the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari), Coffee Research Foundation, Tea Research Foundation and the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (Kesref) were merged.

The new institution has an asset and equity base of Sh28 billion and Sh27.9 billion respectively, and 3,294 staff. Agriculture professionals to head it in acting capacities for three months before directors will be appointed through a competitive process.

The research bodies were merged under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act 2013. Mr Koskei said the agricultural research system in Kenya is characterised by disjointed institutions hence the change.

"This has led to inefficiency in resource use, duplication of efforts and uncoordinated research agenda which is a deviation from best practice," he said.

This is the second category of agricultural institutions merged in the ministryunder new laws enacted last year.

"Karlo will operate as an interdependent network of semi-autonomous bodies committed to a common vision, mission and goal," Koskei said.

It shall have a board of directors, a secretariat headed by the directors general, a scientific and technical committee, and research institutes led by directors.