Kitui County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, and Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries, CPA Gladys Mami Kivoto, on Tuesday hosted a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) for a courtesy call aimed at strengthening collaboration in empowering young people through agriculture.

The meeting focused on exploring areas of partnership under the Vijana Tu Thrive Programme, a youth empowerment initiative implemented by a consortium comprising NCCK, Swahilipot Hub Foundation and Entrepreneurship for Impact (E4Impact), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

During the discussions, the county government and the NCCK delegation identified several agricultural value chains with the potential to create employment and business opportunities for young people. These include poultry farming, dairy production, goat rearing, horticulture, apiculture (beekeeping), and agribusiness value addition.

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The proposed partnership seeks to equip youth with market-driven agricultural skills, nurture entrepreneurship, improve access to economic opportunities and promote sustainable livelihoods through the Vijana Tu Thrive training programme.

Speaking during the meeting, Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries CPA Gladys Mami Kivoto reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to working closely with development partners to expand opportunities for youth participation in agriculture.

She noted that the initiative aligns with Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s vision of creating employment opportunities, enhancing food security and transforming agriculture into a profitable and attractive enterprise for young people across Kitui County.

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Waziri Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele also emphasized the importance of partnerships in driving agricultural transformation, saying collaboration between the county government and development organizations is key to equipping young people with practical skills and improving agricultural productivity.

The NCCK delegation expressed its commitment to participate in the upcoming Kitui Agricultural Show, Trade and Investors Expo, where it will showcase the Vijana Tu Thrive Programme and engage with stakeholders to strengthen partnerships aimed at empowering youth in the agricultural sector.

The NCCK team was led by its Programmes Director, Mr. Atrash. Also present at the meeting was Chief Officer for Livestock Jonathan Kyambi, and other county government officials.

The planned collaboration is expected to enhance youth involvement in agribusiness, promote innovation and contribute to sustainable economic growth while positioning agriculture as a viable source of employment and wealth creation in Kitui County.

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