West Pokot, Kenya- In the arid, rugged landscapes of rural Kenya, a quiet revolution is unfolding. African Food Fellows and local communities have come together in a groundbreaking effort to harness the power of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in a bid to combat the growing impacts of climate change. This region, often plagued by harsh environmental conditions, is now becoming a hub of innovation, sustainability, and resilience.
Speaking to Liberal News Network, Susan Omenyo, an agronomist and African Food Fellow, shared her remarkable story during the African Food Fellowship graduation in Nairobi. With over a decade of experience working with smallholder farmers, Omenyo is now partnering with women farmers in semi-arid and arid regions of West Pokot to restore degraded lands. Her work focuses on creating tree nurseries and reintroducing native tree species to the region, especially in areas heavily dominated by acacia trees.
“Currently, I’m working on a project in West Pokot. The lands have degraded, and soils have eroded. I am working with women farmers to establish tree nurseries and native tree species,” said Omenyo. “I’m helping ensure they are getting good seedlings to restore the region.”
However, one of the biggest challenges is deforestation, driven by the local need for charcoal. Omenyo and her team are working hard to change mindsets, introducing alternative income sources like honey production, which offers both environmental and economic benefits. By providing beehives and encouraging the cultivation of medicinal plants, wild fruits, and fodder crops, the initiative is helping the community to move away from destructive practices and toward a sustainable future.
“We’re also providing beehives to enable them to produce more honey, which they can process and sell. This creates a reliable source of income,” Omenyo explained. Additionally, they plan to grow pastures and fodder crops to sell to dairy and livestock farmers, providing further economic opportunities.
Water scarcity is another pressing issue in the region. Omenyo and her team are partnering with local stakeholders to address this. “Water is a challenge in the southern part of West Pokot. We plan to dig a well and organize a group to manage it properly, ensuring it lasts and serves the community for a long time.”
The vision Omenyo and the women farmers share is to build a future where environmental stewardship supports economic development. Through this partnership, the community of West Pokot is forging a resilient path forward.
During the graduation ceremony, keynote speaker Professor Ruth Oniang’o, a renowned figure in African agriculture, urged the Fellows to take up leadership roles and continue their transformative work. Oniang’o, further stated that the group of food systems leaders gives her hope for the future of agriculture in Kenya.
In her closing remarks, she said, “I encourage you to lead with confidence and embrace different perspectives to make a positive impact.”
The African Food Fellowship, which graduated its third cohort of 29 Kenyan Fellows, is a 10-month leadership program designed to empower participants with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to transform food systems in their regions. The impact of these initiatives, like the one in West Pokot, is a powerful testament to how local leadership can tackle global challenges like climate change while uplifting communities.