Kenya's Largest County Launches Agricultural Training Programme to Tackle Food Insecurity
Lodwar, 22 January 2026
Turkana County has trained 60 community leaders in agricultural entrepreneurship to boost food production across Kenya’s second-largest county. The programme targets both local residents and refugee populations in Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements, covering 77,000 square kilometres of arid land where food security remains a critical challenge.
Community-Driven Agricultural Development Model
The Food Systems Resilience Project completed the two-day training programme in Lodwar on 20 January 2025, focusing on sensitising Community Driven Development Committee officials to the agripreneur approach [1]. This model seeks to equip farmers with modern agricultural technologies, provide extension services, and facilitate access to markets in one of Kenya’s most challenging agricultural environments [1]. County Project Coordinator Victor Lochee emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the committees’ oversight role during the training sessions [1].
Oversight and Economic Empowerment Framework
The trained committee officials will oversee the performance and payment of agripreneurs at the ward level, serving as a crucial link between the community and the county as trustees of community interests [1]. Lochee urged committee members to mobilise young people in their respective communities to join Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations as a pathway to economic empowerment [1]. At the conclusion of the training, CDDC officials signed contracts after being taken through and agreeing to the terms and conditions governing their engagement [1].
Strategic Impact on Host and Refugee Communities
The initiative holds particular significance for Turkana County, which hosts substantial refugee populations in Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements whilst simultaneously addressing local food security challenges [GPT]. Christine Ebei, the FSRP County Digital Agriculture Lead, attended the training, highlighting the project’s focus on digital agricultural solutions [1]. The agripreneur model represents a community-driven approach designed to create livelihood opportunities and improve food access across the county’s 77,000 square kilometres of predominantly arid terrain [1].
Building Resilience Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship
The programme’s timing reflects the urgent need for sustainable food production solutions in Kenya’s north-western region, where traditional farming faces significant environmental constraints [GPT]. The Food Systems Resilience Project’s approach combines modern agricultural technologies with community oversight structures, potentially creating a replicable model for other arid regions facing similar challenges [1]. The emphasis on youth engagement through SACCOs demonstrates a comprehensive strategy that addresses both immediate food security needs and long-term economic development [1].