Kenya is increasingly turning to agribusiness as a critical avenue to address the persistent challenge of youth unemployment. With approximately 75% of the country's population under the age of 35, and a youth unemployment rate that stood at 11.93% in 2024, down slightly from 12.01% in 2023, the need for job creation is paramount. The agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of Kenya's economy, contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs a large percentage of the population, particularly in rural areas.

Despite its economic importance, youth engagement in agriculture has historically been low, often due to negative perceptions of farming as a last resort or an unprofitable venture. However, government initiatives and strategic frameworks are actively working to rebrand agriculture and attract young people to the sector's diverse opportunities.

Historical and Political Context

Agriculture has long been the dominant sector in Kenya's economy. In 2005, it accounted for about 24% of GDP, 18% of wage employment, and 50% of export revenue. More recently, the sector has been reported to contribute about 20-30% of GDP directly and an additional 27% indirectly through linkages with other sectors like manufacturing and trade. It also employs over 40% of the total population and more than 70% of the rural populace.

Kenya's Vision 2030, the country's long-term development blueprint, identifies agriculture as a key sector to drive economic growth and achieve food security. The vision aims to transform small-scale agriculture from subsistence to an innovative, commercially oriented, and modern sector.

Laws, Policy, and Governance

The government has implemented several policies and strategies to promote youth involvement in agribusiness. The National Youth in Agribusiness Strategy (2017-2021), launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, aimed to create innovative, attractive, and sustainable employment opportunities for youth. This strategy identified key issues such as negative perceptions of agriculture, inadequate skills, limited access to land, finance, and markets, and the impacts of climate change.

Other initiatives include the Youth and Women Empowerment in Modern Agriculture Project (Y-MAP), which trains in-school and out-of-school youth and women in agribusiness skills and provides modern agricultural equipment and certified inputs. The Empowering Novel Agribusiness-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Kenya Program, funded by the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank (AfDB), uses an incubation model to train and empower agricultural entrepreneurs.

Stakeholders and Testimonies

Various stakeholders are involved in promoting youth agribusiness. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, county governments, and development partners like the African Development Bank and UNICEF are central to these efforts. Academic institutions and NGOs also play a role in research, training, and advocacy.

While specific testimonies were not provided in the input, the focus of these programs is to equip young people with practical skills and resources to launch and expand their ventures. For instance, a World Bank-supported youth employment program in Kenya has benefited over 155,000 young people, leading to the launch of 86,000 businesses and the creation of 125,000 jobs.

Evidence and Data

Kenya's youth unemployment rate was 11.93% in 2024. The agricultural sector employs over 40% of the total population. Despite this, youth engagement in agriculture has been relatively low, with some reports indicating that only 10% of young people work in agriculture, even as youth unemployment hovers around 64% (GIZ, 2020). However, the agribusiness sector accounted for 14% of employment among surveyed youth in a GeoPoll report from December 2024.

Risks and Implications

The high youth population, with 75% under 35 years, presents both an opportunity and a challenge. If not adequately addressed, youth unemployment can lead to social unrest and hinder economic development. Conversely, successful integration of youth into agribusiness can significantly boost food security, reduce poverty, and drive sustainable economic growth.

Challenges such as limited access to education and training, land, finance, and market information continue to hinder higher youth participation. Climate change also poses a significant risk to agricultural productivity and youth livelihoods.

Timeline and Next Steps

Kenya's Vision 2030 aims for the country to be a newly industrialized, middle-income nation by 2030. Achieving food security and boosting farmer incomes are central to this vision. The government continues to implement strategies like the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (2019-2029) and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to prioritize youth employment and skills development in agriculture.

What to Watch

Key areas to watch include the effectiveness of ongoing government programs in attracting and retaining youth in agribusiness, the impact of climate-smart agricultural technologies, and the expansion of access to finance and markets for young agripreneurs. Continued collaboration between government, private sector, and NGOs will be crucial for the sustained growth of youth-led agribusinesses.

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Further insights can be found in reports detailing the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) and various studies on youth perceptions of employment and entrepreneurship in Kenya.