This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) announced an ambitious initiative to create one million kitchen gardens across the country. The plan aims to provide households with the tools and resources needed to grow their own food, reducing their reliance on expensive commercial produce and improving food security.
However, the initiative has faced criticism from some quarters, with commentators suggesting that it is unrealistic to expect poor households to have the space or resources to grow their own food. They argue that kitchen gardens are only suitable for those with balconies or other outdoor spaces, and that they will only provide a small amount of food.
But the reality is that vertical gardening and hydroponic farming are becoming increasingly popular in Kenya, with many smallholders producing up to two kilos of food per bag per week. In fact, studies have shown that a single bag can produce over 30kgs of kale in just two months.
Moreover, the idea that poor households do not have the space or resources to grow their own food is a misconception. In reality, many households are already creating kitchen gardens in slums and other areas, using innovative methods such as growing crops in sacks, hanging baskets, and tyres.
One such example is Sarah, a refugee from the DRC who began a kitchen garden in Kakuma refugee camp in 2018 and fed her family wholly. Another example is the JKUAT students who created a moveable aerial farm for urban dwellers in 2016, carrying 100 crops on a single metal stand.
So, what does the MoA need to do to communicate the potential of kitchen gardens effectively? It needs to create a fact sheet that showcases the power of these gardens to transform lives and provide food security. It needs to highlight the success stories of households who have already started kitchen gardens and the impact it has had on their lives.
By doing so, the MoA can create a movement around kitchen gardens, rather than just a photo shoot. And with the potential to feed four or five million people, this initiative has the power to transform the lives of millions of Kenyans.
