Kibabii University, in collaboration with Rikolto East Africa, hosted a stakeholders’ workshop in Kisumu County focused on enhancing sustainable food systems and promoting urban agriculture. The one-day event brought together diverse actors in the agri-food sector to explore innovative solutions to food insecurity and to reflect on the future of food systems in Kisumu and beyond.
Among the invited participants was Jenice Achieng Audi, the Country Representative of YPARD Kenya (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development). Her participation brought a crucial perspective to the table: the urgent need to center young people in conversations and interventions around agriculture and food systems.
The workshop provided a platform for assessing the current state of Kisumu’s food systems, identifying policy and practical gaps, and exploring the potential of urban and peri-urban farming to address local food insecurity. Presentations from Kibabii University highlighted ongoing research and funded initiatives focused on enhancing production systems, market access, and resilience.
A recurring strength throughout the discussions was the strong emphasis on smallholder farmers, whose contributions to food security and local economies were broadly acknowledged. However, Jenice Audi raised a critical concern: the lack of attention to youth involvement, particularly at the production level. She noted that despite the well-known challenge of an aging farming population and the declining interest among youth in agriculture, their voices and innovations were largely missing from the day’s discussions.
In her address, Audi showcased YPARD Kenya’s impactful work in engaging and empowering young people within the agricultural sector. She shared examples of how YPARD is:
Her contribution emphasized that achieving sustainable food systems will require deliberate, meaningful youth engagement, not only as beneficiaries but as key drivers of innovation and transformation.
Participants also explored policy and programmatic avenues for improving the food system. The conversation highlighted the need for interventions that close the gap between well-meaning policies and on-the-ground realities. Audi underscored the importance of enabling young farmers to participate in decision-making spaces and supporting them to overcome structural barriers.
The workshop concluded with a farm visit, where participants observed firsthand some of the innovations being piloted in urban and peri-urban agriculture. This practical component helped ground the earlier discussions in real-world examples, reinforcing the need for scalable, community-based approaches.
The Kisumu workshop offered valuable insights into local food system challenges and potential. While the focus on smallholders was important, YPARD Kenya’s intervention underscored a critical gap: the need to fully integrate youth into the food systems transformation agenda. As Jenice Audi reminded participants, the future of sustainable food systems in Kenya hinges on investing in the energy, creativity, and resilience of young people.
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