With food systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, population growth and changing consumer demands, the participation of a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators will be critical to building more productive, resilient and inclusive agrifood economies.
Nairobi, Kenya’s county governments are set to take a major step towards unlocking the potential of young people in agriculture with the launch of the Model County Youth in Agrifood Systems Strategy, a framework designed to help counties create more enabling environments for young people to participate in and profit from the agrifood economy.
The strategy was developed by the Council of Governors (CoG) with technical and financial support from the (AGRA). The unveiling brought together Governors, policymakers, young agripreneurs, development partners, financial institutions and private sector actors around a common objective: moving beyond conversations about youth unemployment towards practical action, investment and partnerships that enable young people to build viable businesses across the agrifood value chain.
According to World Bank data, Kenya has one of the youngest populations in the world, with approximately 75% of its population below the age of 35. At the same time, more than 800,000 young people enter the labour market every year, highlighting the urgent need to expand pathways to productive and sustainable livelihoods.
Agriculture remains central to Kenya’s economy, contributing approximately 22.4% of GDP directly and a further 27% indirectly through linkages with manufacturing, distribution and other sectors. Yet the sector continues to struggle to attract and retain young people, many of whom perceive agriculture as labour-intensive, risky and offering limited economic opportunity.
The new strategy seeks to change this narrative by positioning young people not simply as beneficiaries of the agricultural economy, but as entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, service providers and leaders across the agrifood value chain.
Speaking during the launch, Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti said, “Young people must remain at the centre of our development agenda, and this strategy provides a practical pathway to gainful livelihoods, sustainable development, and scalable economic opportunities. With AGRA and our other partners, we have developed a long-term, integrated and sustainable model that gives counties a structured way to engage young people while bringing the private sector into the equation.”
Speaking on behalf of AGRA, Boaz Keizire, Director for Policy and State Capability, said: “As an institution, we pledge our continued partnership with counties to turn this strategy into action. We will work alongside counties to translate these solutions into real livelihoods, enterprises and opportunities for young people in agribusiness.”
Governor of Bungoma County Ken Lusaka said the Council of Governors will deploy a dedicated team to track implementation of the strategy, support counties in its rollout and strengthen the capacity of young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities in agribusiness.
The strategy provides County Governments with guidance on mainstreaming youth in county planning, improving access to finance and markets, leveraging public-private partnerships, strengthening coordination and creating an enabling environment for youth-led enterprises.
It also provides young people with an opportunity to put their businesses, innovations, and ideas directly in front of potential partners and financiers. The launch also showcased youth-led agribusinesses from Kirinyaga, Bungoma, Kakamega, Nakuru and Meru counties, highlighting practical examples of young people creating enterprises and opportunities across Kenya’s agricultural value chains
High-impact flagship interventions were presented for consideration by development partners and private sector actors, with the aim of mobilising technical and financial support for implementation. With food systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, population growth and changing consumer demands, the participation of a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators is critical to building more productive, resilient and inclusive agrifood economies.
The Model County Youth in Agrifood Systems Strategy therefore seeks to turn Kenya’s youth dividend into an economic opportunity by creating county ecosystems in which young people can move beyond participation to ownership, innovation and leadership in the agrifood economy.
