How School Meal Supplies are Boosting Jobs for Kenyan Youth
Kakuma, 15 September 2026
The supply of 18 tonnes of green grams to Kakuma refugee camp schools has enabled unemployed local youth to generate stable incomes and expand their farms.
Transforming Turkana’s Agricultural Landscape
In Kenya’s Turkana County, high levels of post-study unemployment have historically left many young graduates without viable career opportunities [1]. To address this challenge, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) launched an initiative to equip local youth with advanced agricultural skills [1]. Rather than relying on traditional, subsistence-level farming, participants are trained in modern techniques, including crop rotation and the cultivation of high-yield crops like leafy vegetables and green grams, locally known as ndengu [1].
Infrastructure and Capacity Building
To streamline the supply chain and reduce post-harvest losses, the WFP established a dedicated Aggregation Center in the region [1]. This facility is equipped with protective fencing and specialised drying tents, which allow local youth and smallholder farmers to safely store, sort, process, and distribute their agricultural produce [1]. This infrastructure ensures that the harvested green grams meet the quality standards required for institutional markets [1].
The Economic Ripple Effect of School Distribution
A major milestone was achieved in 2025 when 18 tonnes of locally produced green grams were successfully distributed to schools within the Kakuma refugee camp [1]. This massive purchase created a reliable, structured market for Turkana’s young farmers, directly translating agricultural yields into financial security [1]. The guaranteed market has allowed smallholders to generate sustainable incomes, which they have reinvested back into their households and businesses [1].
Empowering Local Youth and Improving Nutrition
The real-world impact of this initiative is highlighted by beneficiaries like Treazer Enyala, a young Turkana resident who turned to farming after failing to find formal employment [1]. Enyala used the revenue generated from her green gram sales to clear her child’s outstanding school fees and expanded her farm by one acre to cultivate maize [1]. According to Keziah Kironji, a WFP Policy Programme Officer, the project has successfully enhanced local production capacities, secured consistent market access, and significantly improved household nutrition and health across the community [1].