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At last week’s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, the spotlight was firmly on young people as they marked International Youth Day with a dedicated forum on transforming food systems. The event, convened by AGRA in partnership with the National Youth Council and the Council of Governors, brought together over 70 youths from across the country who are engaged in agribusiness and agritech.

Themed “Youth at the Centre – Transforming County Food Systems through Innovation and Participation,” the side event underscored the role of young people as change-makers in agriculture and governance.

AGRA Country Director for Kenya, John Macharia, said Africa’s booming population of young people represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

“As the decisive force in the continent’s transformation, their ideas, technology, and energy will be key to feeding Africa, and the world. By investing in our young people, we unlock their potential to become a global force for innovation, resilience, and prosperity,” he said.

Despite Kenyan youth making up more than 75% of the population, fewer than 10% are engaged in agribusiness, hindered by limited access to land, credit, markets, and supportive policies.

The forum highlighted these barriers while showcasing innovative youth-led enterprises and creating a platform for direct engagement with policymakers, development partners, and the private sector.

County governments were challenged to harness youth innovation to drive food security at the grassroots. Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, chair of the Agriculture Committee in the Council of Governors, noted that counties collectively invested KSh 22.6 billion, about 10% of their total expenditure, into agriculture in 2022.

“Agriculture employs nearly two-thirds of Kenya’s workforce, with smallholder farmers producing 70% of our food. Recognising its contribution of nearly a quarter to our GDP, counties are making bold strides to support SMEs and empower young people, many of whom are driving agribusiness innovation,” Lusaka said.

From the discussions, youth delegates issued a collective call to action, urging:

• National Government to scale up youth-centered agricultural programs and support county implementation.
• County Governments to prioritize young people in food systems planning, ensure access to land and finance, and integrate youth in policy development while supporting climate-smart agriculture.
• Private Sector and Development Partners to co-invest in youth-led innovations, agritech, and mentorship initiatives.
• Young people themselves need to mobilize, network, and seize opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

Governor Lusaka reaffirmed the county’s commitment, citing Bungoma’s blueprint to create 11,000 new jobs, nurture 450 youth-led businesses, and inject KSh 950 million into the local economy by 2027.

The event also featured a Mini Agri-Hackathon, where young people in teams brainstormed rapid solutions to county food system challenges such as market access and climate resilience, receiving feedback from technical experts.

In addition, the County Youth in Agribusiness Engagement Strategy and Model Toolkit was officially launched, with participants pledging to adopt it in their counties.

By amplifying young people’s voices and translating discussions into actionable commitments, the side event laid critical groundwork for a more inclusive and resilient food system.

As AGRA and county leaders emphasized, unlocking the creativity and innovation of Kenya’s young agri-preneurs is not only a national priority but also a pathway to ensuring food security and economic growth in the years ahead.