Developing Sustainable Cities through Youth Groups

By Isaac Okoth, Exec. Dir. & Founder at IGD

9 out of every 10 unemployed Kenyans are at the age of 35 years or below. In the search for income and a means to sustain themselves, the youths have engaged in criminal activities. However, the Institute for Green Development (IGD), a local non-governmental organization, has been developing strategies to which the youth group can be made productive in the Kenyan economy.

The Project Solution

The organization has been involving youth groups in Kayole in agricultural activities through its project dubbed “Ukulima Mtaani” which is a Swahili phrase for urban street farming. The goal of the project has entailed the use of the

potential household waste into the development of farms. The innovative idea got a recognition from Melinda and Gates EFSOYC Project at Kenyatta University thus receiving a seed funding worth US$2,500. The project has been able to engage at least 7 youth groups through which barren or waste land have been turned into production farms in Kayole-Nairobi. The goal of the project is to ensure that Nairobi becomes a sustainable city through converting the once illegal waste collecting points into the streets into productive and attractive city farms that can help the youths to earn income and become food secure.

The Challenge

The difficult part was convincing the youths about the viability of the project. Most of the Kenyan youth have a negative attitude towards agriculture. A significant number of youths also love quick fix thus convincing them that sustainable development needs time investment is not an easy job. In addition, most of the lands in Kayole are either private, public, or grabbed. It is, therefore, not easy to find a safe place to construct a street farm. A significant number of the youths in Kayole that the organization is dealing with is made of reformed individuals who once belonged to criminal groups in the area hence must be treated with caution lest they relapse. Furthermore, the youths have a negative perception of the institutions since they claim most of them often come with promises but end up delivering none.

The success of the Project

The youth groups have shown interest in the idea and that is what motivates the organization the most. With the will of the target group which is made of about 30 households, the project is already a success for where there is a will, there must be a way. The youths do not need to be given everything but to be facilitated to address their own problems. If we invest and place belief to the youths who form the majority of the Kenyan population, sustainable development, and sustainable cities will be a dream come true.