Empowering Kenya's Food System at the Transform Food Festival 2024

The event brought together leaders, experts, and young innovators committed to enhancing food security and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

The African Food Fellowship was established to drive food system transformation across Africa by training local leaders.

In Kenya, the Fellowship addresses food security challenges, agricultural resilience, and nutrition.

Through its cohort training program, the Fellowship has equipped three groups of Food Systems Actors (FSAs) with the tools to implement impactful projects aimed at transforming local food systems.

Key guests included Professor Ruth Oniang’o, a nutrition expert and founder of Rural Outreach Africa, who has championed food security and policy reform for decades.

“They are doing it differently; they are looking beyond food. They are looking at also impact,” she said about the African Food Fellowship program.

Another prominent guest, First Daughter Charlene Ruto and an entrepreneur with a passion for farming and beekeeping, recently launched a foundation to teach Kenyan youth about agricultural opportunities, especially in beekeeping.

“I saw beekeeping not just as agribusiness but as a way of building communities. I saw it as something I could share with the young people, and that is what led me to found SMACHS Foundation,” she said, reflecting on how such forums changed her outlook on farming.

She also encouraged the youth to explore different sectors of agribusiness. “To make real money in agriculture, you have to scale it to a particular level. You have to start small and be patient.”

The festival featured a live podcast with panellists Mutuma Muriuki and Serah Waceke discussing challenges in farming, from securing funding for farming solutions to loan provision.

“If we collaborated together as food system actors, we would be able to create a more efficient and sustainable food ecosystem,” said Waceke, an Agri-Finance consultant and agricultural economist.

“We need more help in providing sufficient resources to allow farmers to secure funding and provide quality products,” added Mutuma Muriuki, an agroecologist.

The FSA Plaza offered an interactive space where attendees could learn about “fellows’ projects” and engage in Q&A sessions covering topics such as Youth in Agriculture, Sustainable Food Systems, and Innovative Financing.

Brenda Mareri, Kenya’s Country Lead for the African Food Fellowship, highlighted the program’s focus on practical solutions tailored to local needs.

“We are a dynamic network, working on radical change to transform food systems in Africa. We provide world-class training, platforms, and networks to spark collaborative action for healthy, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.” She said.

The 2024 Transform Food Festival highlighted the Fellowship’s commitment to nurturing leaders and fostering collaboration to build a resilient and inclusive food system in Kenya.