Samburu: First Lady, Mama Racheal Ruto, has launched the Mama Kitchen Garden Initiative at Kisima Girls Secondary School in Samburu West Sub County to enhance food security and nutrition in the arid and semi-arid county. This initiative aims to address hunger and promote sustainable agriculture by empowering women and youth across the country to develop kitchen gardens.
According to Kenya News Agency, the First Lady announced the initiative during her visit to a model farm. The program, launched in May 2025, seeks to improve food security and nutrition by encouraging households and schools to grow their own food. The initiative also focuses on teaching gardening techniques to build resilient communities capable of withstanding food security challenges.
The First Lady emphasized the importance of local solutions in combating food insecurity, particularly in counties like Samburu, which are heavily impacted by climate change. She highlighted the success of Norulem in Turkana County, which has transformed into a thriving agricultural hub, as a model for Samburu to follow. Racheal Ruto also mentioned the collaboration between her office and the Ministries of Education and Agriculture to revive 4K clubs, aiming to inspire students to view agriculture as a valuable and innovative livelihood.
Agriculture Principal Secretary, Dr. Paul Rono, expressed the government's dedication to improving the livestock value chain in Samburu County. He noted that the completion of a multimillion-shilling export abattoir in Isiolo would provide a ready market for Samburu livestock, thus boosting the region's meat industry.