Barely a day after his transfer to the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has found himself with a full in-tray as Kenyans flood him with requests on issues they want prioritised once the committee begins its work.
Sifuna was this week moved from the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) to the Agriculture Committee as part of changes made by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The reshuffle also saw him lose his position as Senate Deputy Minority Whip.
Rather than diminishing his public profile, the move prompted a wave of messages from Kenyans asking him to champion challenges affecting the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
The requests range from concerns over the blue economy and fish farming to the plight of onion farmers and the country’s preparedness for the forecast El Niño rains.
Among the first messages Sifuna shared was one urging him to focus on the blue economy.
“Morning Ndugu, karibu sana Blue Economy. While our legislators are singing broadbase, the lake region economy is being sabotaged. No one is talking about it. I hope you can amplify this and challenge some of our leaders. Good day.”
The Cage Fish Farmers Association of Kenya also appealed to the senator to push for the repeal of the five per cent fish-landing levy, arguing that it unfairly targets fish farmers and benefits fish import cartels.
The association said the levy, which it noted was upheld by the High Court on June 29 alongside the Fisheries Management and Development (Aquaculture) Regulations, 2024, amounts to a gross-output tax imposed on one sector without a comparable charge in other livestock industries.
It further claimed the court was not informed that the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs had previously signed a joint communiqué with industry players acknowledging that the regulations required fundamental reforms.
“The levy is being presented to the public as routine regulatory administration. It is not. It is a gross-output tax on a strategic industry, levied exclusively on a region and community whose primary economic activity is fish farming,” the association said.
A farmer from Meru appealed to Sifuna to intervene over what she described as an influx of cheaper onions from Tanzania, saying local farmers were struggling to sell their produce.
“Hello Sifuna. My name is Mrs Mwenda. Just to let you know, Meru is holding on you.”
Another Kenyan shared a document titled El Niño 2026–2027 Projected Impact – Kenya and urged the senator to prioritise disaster preparedness.
“Hit the road in the Agriculture committee on this issue of El Niño. It’s a looming disaster.”
Reacting to the influx of requests, Sifuna expressed surprise at how quickly Kenyans had assigned him work in his new committee.
“Kenyans hawachelewi…mliskia nimetumwa Agriculture/fisheries committee mshajaza intray kabla hata nijue kamati hukaa wapi. Si rice, si sukari, si vitunguu eish! Shida ziko hii Kenya si ni mingi.”
His remarks sparked debate online, with some users saying the transfer could strengthen his political profile by bringing him closer to issues affecting farmers.
“Enyewe God’s plan is never imperfect. The enemy just made you popular with the local farmers and upcountry electorates,” one supporter said.
“Yaani sasa wamekupeleka place sasa uta address the real mwananchi. Mkulima mdogo. These guys really love shooting themselves in the foot,” added another.
