Schools Turn to Permaculture Farming to Cut Costs and Improve Nutrition By Mary Juma Across Western Kenya, school compounds once lined with ornamental flowers are being transformed into thriving farms as institutions turn to agriculture to cut food costs, improve student nutrition, and bring classroom learning to life. At St. Ann’s Sega Girls Primary and Junior School in Siaya County, vegetable gardens now occupy spaces that previously hosted decorative plants. Along classroom corridors, kales and spring onions flourish in suspended frame gardens and recycled polythene bags, while nearby plots support poultry and rabbits. The transformation is part of a growing movement led by the Schools and Colleges Permaculture (SCOPE) Kenya programme, which is helping schools integrate sustainable agriculture into daily learning while building resilience against rising food prices and climate-related challenges. St. Ann’s Sega Girls Principal Sister Mildred Akinyi | Courtesy Mary Juma The initiative was showcased during World Environment Day celebrations, where educators, students, and community members highlighted how schools are increasingly becoming centres of food production and environmental stewardship. For St. Ann’s Sega Girls Principal Sister Mildred Akinyi, the shift has delivered significant financial relief at a time when schools are grappling with limited government capitation and rising operational costs. “We are replacing flowers with vegetables, onions and other food crops,” she said. The school now produces nearly 85 per cent of the vegetables consumed by learners, dramatically reducing expenditure on food purchases. “When I look at the expenditures that I have right now, it is lesser compared to when we used to buy vegetables,” Akinyi said. But beyond reducing costs, the farm has become an outdoor classroom where students put the Competency-Based Education (CBE) into practice. Members of the school’s Agriculture Club spend part of their learning time producing organic fertilisers and pesticides from locally available materials. Neem leaves and rabbit urine are processed into foliar feeds that are then applied to crops across the school farm. St. Ann’s Sega Girls student Ipi Monica speaking to the press. | Courtesy Mary Juma “Once we are taught in class, we practically make the foliar feeds and apply them and see their uses practically,” said student Ipi Monica. “It is a much better advantage, and it also helps academically because it becomes easier to remember.” Nearby, students manage what they call a “rabbit village,” housing five different rabbit breeds. The project forms part of a circular farming system in which rabbit waste feeds a vermiculture unit. The resulting nutrient-rich vermi-liquid is diluted and applied to crops as fertiliser and natural pest control. Student Jane Zawadi said the integrated approach has taught learners how waste can be transformed into valuable agricultural inputs rather than becoming an environmental burden. The impact of the programme extends far beyond the school gates. Through a 14-day practical training model, SCOPE Kenya equips teachers, learners and parents with skills in agroecology, food production and sustainable land management. The goal is to create a ripple effect that spreads from schools into surrounding communities. John Macharia, a representative of SCOPE Kenya | Courtesy, Mary Juma “Our journey starts from the school, and then we walk to the community,” said John Macharia, a representative of SCOPE Kenya. According to Macharia, the programme helps interested parents organise themselves into registered self-help groups, enabling them to replicate successful school-based farming models at home while restoring degraded land and strengthening household food security. One such beneficiary is the Glorious Women Group, whose members have adopted permaculture techniques on their own farms. Today, the group’s 25 members grow indigenous African vegetables, fruits and bananas while producing their own seed stock. “Initially, we used to be given seeds, but now we harvest our own seeds from our farms, so we don’t go back to the market to buy them anymore,” said group member Elizabeth Shirandula. The benefits have been far-reaching. Surplus produce is sold to generate income for school fees, while some harvests are shared with vulnerable children and elderly members of the community. School administrators say the emphasis on indigenous African foods is not only about reducing costs and improving food security but also about promoting healthier diets. Glorious Women Group member Elizabeth Shirandula beneficiary of SCOPE Kenya | Courtesy Mary Juma Under SCOPE Kenya’s slogan, “My Food is African,” schools are encouraging learners to embrace traditional crops and organic production methods as concerns grow over lifestyle diseases linked to highly processed foods and chemical-intensive farming systems. Back at St. Ann’s Sega Girls, the ambition continues to grow. The school plans to become fully self-sufficient in poultry production by next year and is preparing to venture into aquaculture through the construction of a fish pond. For Sister Akinyi, the success of the programme offers a lesson to schools across the country: limited land should not be viewed as a barrier to food production. “It is not the land that you have, but it is the attitude,” she said. “There is nothing that is impossible.” As food prices continue to rise and climate pressures intensify, schools like St. Ann’s Sega Girls are demonstrating that classrooms can do more than educate. They can feed communities, nurture environmental stewardship, and equip the next generation with practicalContinue Reading

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Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:30:12 +0300

Meru's Plan to Carve Up Imenti Forest Sparks Uproar Over Deforestation Fears By Waweru Wairimu A plan by the Meru County Government to excise hundreds of acres of Imenti Forest for the construction of a State Lodge, golf course and related infrastructure has triggered a fierce backlash from conservation groups, who warn the move could accelerate deforestation in one of Kenya’s most important forest ecosystems. The proposal has drawn criticism from environmentalists who argue that clearing indigenous forest land for luxury developments risks undermining national efforts to restore forest cover and combat climate change. The Green Belt Movement has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of the project, accusing authorities of placing commercial and political interests ahead of environmental protection. “This is not development; it is thuggery dressed up as economic progress,” the organisation said in a statement protesting the planned developments. The environmental lobby further questioned the rationale of converting a protected public forest into high-end facilities, saying such projects threaten the ecological integrity of the forest. Green Belt Movement is mobilising communities to reclaim degraded landscapes in a past event. | Courtesy of Green Belt Movement “Forests are held in trust for the people of Kenya and are not personal assets to be allocated for political convenience,” the organisation said. Imenti Forest forms part of the larger Mount Kenya ecosystem and serves as a critical water catchment area feeding rivers that support agriculture, households and wildlife across Meru and neighbouring counties. Environmental experts warn that any reduction in forest cover could increase soil erosion, disrupt water flows, reduce biodiversity and weaken the area’s resilience to climate change. Beyond the immediate loss of forest land, conservationists fear the project could open the door to further encroachment and fragmentation of the ecosystem. Environmental groups say experience from other parts of the country has shown that once public forests are opened up for infrastructure and commercial projects, pressure for additional allocations often follows, leading to gradual but significant forest degradation. The controversy comes as Kenya pursues an ambitious programme to increase national tree cover to 30 per cent and restore millions of hectares of degraded landscapes. Critics argue that clearing existing forests sends a contradictory message at a time when government agencies are urging citizens, communities and private companies to plant and protect trees. The Green Belt Movement has formally sought clarification from government authorities regarding the reported plans. “The Green Belt Movement writes to you seeking urgent clarification on the alleged plan to excise part of Imenti Forest in Meru County to construct a State Lodge and a golf course,” the organisation said in a letter to forestry officials. Forest officer inspecting the electric fence at Imenti Forest in Meru. | Courtesy KTN News Meru County leaders, however, have defended the project, arguing that it is necessary to unlock the region’s economic potential and strengthen its position as an investment and tourism destination. Governor Isaac Mutuma has previously supported the development: “The golf course and State Lodge are needed, along with an airstrip, to spur the region’s agricultural and tourism sectors.” Supporters of the project argue that the facilities would attract investors, create jobs and provide infrastructure capable of hosting high-level government functions and international visitors. But conservationists insist that economic development should not come at the expense of irreplaceable natural ecosystems. The dispute is expected to intensify as environmental groups push for greater transparency on the exact acreage targeted for excision, the approvals granted for the project and the environmental impact assessments undertaken. If approved, the project would represent one of the most controversial forest excisions in recent years, reigniting long-standing concerns about the future of Kenya’s public forests and the growing pressures they face fromContinue Reading

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Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:20:25 +0300

The Engineer who Shaped Kenya’s Renewable Energy Story By Moraa Obiria By the time the morning sunlight stretches across the grass beneath the wind turbine on the northern edge of the Ngong Hills, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has already been counting hours of generation of clean energy. “Standing on this point and seeing this wind turbine generating clean energy for the country… I feel that this is an example that all the countries need to emulate,” said Jennifer Gache, an engineer behind the turning blades and the quiet triumph of Kenya’s early wind energy ambitions. When she graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 1995 with a degree in mechanical engineering, women in engineering spaces were still rare. Entering the profession then felt like lighting a candle against a storm, she explained. Years later, figures from the Engineers Board of Kenya show just how steep that climb was. 2024 data from the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) shows that in Kenya’s engineering sector, women remain significantly underrepresented, accounting for only 11 per cent of registered professional engineers, while female enrolment in STEM courses at universities stands at just 22 per cent. This highlights the persistent gender gap within the country’s technical and leadership pipeline. KenGen’s Ngong Wind Farm began with two wind turbines commissioned in 1993 as a donation from the Belgian government. Before that, KenGen had spent 14 years studying the area’s favourable wind regime through experimental turbines installed on the hills in the early 1990s. The two original turbines have long since been retired and a row of huge turbines now stands like sentinels along the ridgeline of the Ngong Hills. And Gache has carved a place for herself in an arena where few women stood before her. “You have to come and start everything from scratch,” Gache recalled of a time early on in Kenya’s wind projects when she would have to visit remote greenfield sites, vast stretches of land with little infrastructure and few signs that such ambitious projects could succeed. At a time when Kenya was still heavily reliant on conventional energy sources, Gache found herself among a few engineers pushing Kenyan institutions to take wind power seriously. “I was able to tell my story and indicate that wind power was a feasible energy source,” she said. Gache later went to Malmö, Sweden, to train in wind power technology and wind modeling, an experience that deepened her belief in renewable energy at a time when the sector was still regarded as experimental in Kenya. “When I came back with that knowledge, I was empowered to convince the organisation that we needed to balance our energy using both renewable and non-renewable sources,” she said. Jennifer Gache posing for a photo at the Ngong Wind Farm on April 7, 2026. | Courtesy Moraa Obiria, Bird Story Agency She worked as chief energy planner, overseeing supply and demand forecasts for Kenya and the wider region, conceptualizing the capital pipeline, and driving strategic planning. It was during this period that she helped lay the foundation for Kenya’s wind energy sector. “I kicked off the installation of the 5.1MW wind farm at Ngong Hills, helping establish the wind sector in the region,” she said. Today, when she stands beneath the turbines at Ngong, the achievement still feels personal. “When you come and see a project that you initiated has taken ground and is working, and people are looking at it as an example, you get so much joy,” she said. “It was very fulfilling work.” For materials engineer and entrepreneur Nzambi Matee, the experiences of women engineers reflected both progress and persistence. “The first fundamental step is investing more in development spaces for women engineers,” Nzambi said. “Sometimes you just can’t wait for that space to be given to you,” she said. “Sometimes you have to take it.” She recalled having to work significantly harder than male colleagues early in her career to be taken seriously. Gache then worked with the Ministry of Energy to establish a national wind energy map. Her footprints stretched beyond Ngong. In Bubisa in Marsabit and Loiyangalani in Turkana, she developed technical specifications for 50-metre-high wind masts distributed across 12 sites. The work often took her into isolated terrain few engineers wanted to navigate. She recalled volunteering for difficult assignments, including traveling to Loiyangalani to scout wind sites in Kenya’s north. “I’m a trailblazer,” she said with a laugh. “I have a very strong pioneer spirit. I like very tough assignments. I’m resilient, resourceful, and adaptable, and I get along with people very easily. That made it easier to initiate new things and convince people to give new ideas a chance.” Today, KenGen reports about 26 MW of installed wind energy capacity at Ngong, accounting for roughly two per cent of its total installed capacity. But for Gache, successful engineering was never just about the number of megawatts. While introducing the wind projects to local communities, she often reminded residents that development did not have to displace livelihoods. “We told the community they could still graze their cattle here,” she said. “We are generating power, but the community is still able to continue with their activities. That is what good project management is.” Jennifer Gache at the leather testing laboratory at the Kenya Bureau of Standards on 7 April 2026. | Courtesy Moraa Obiria, Bbird Story Agency Gache did not stop at wind energy. She moved into another complex and highly technical space: nuclear energy. In 2009, she coordinated a regional meeting aimed at increasing awareness among decision-makers on the requirements and challenges of developing a nuclear power program. Her work also focused on building technical capacity and helping institutions understand the infrastructure needed for nuclear energy development. “My efforts led to the establishment of NUPEA (Nuclear Power and Energy Agency), and the conversation on nuclear energy is now well established in the country,” she said. Away from policy rooms and energy planning meetings, Gache steadily became a mentor to younger women engineers navigating spaces that still often questioned their presence. She encouraged young women engineers to continuously build their skills and seek opportunities in difficult projects rather than shrinking from them. “It’s a challenging profession,” she said. “But that does not mean women cannot succeed.” In 2022, she was elected as a council member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), later serving as chairperson of the Women Engineers Committee from 2024 to 2025. Among the initiatives she championed was the first-ever Women Engineers Committee Summit. She also organised mentorship forums, webinars on job hunting and contract skills and networking walks that created spaces for young women engineers to connect and learn. One of the young engineers shaped by that mentorship was Linda Lichuma, a graduate civil engineer and intern at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). Fresh from graduating from the University of Nairobi in September 2024, Lichuma found herself adjusting to the realities of engineering practice while working on a 200-kilometre road project. “Nothing really fully prepares you for how difficult it is going to be,” she said. “But what sustains you is passion and the belief that you belong in STEM.” Through Gache’s mentorship and the Women Engineers Committee, Lichuma gained access to spaces where engineers and industry professionals made decisions and shaped projects. “That opportunity showed me that young people need to be brought into rooms where decisions are made,” she said. Today, Gache works as an East African Community regional consultant for GFA Consulting Group and as a consultant for Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the German National Metrology Institute. Her work now focuses on strengthening regional value chains and improving industrial standards. Gache now hopes to push even further. She plans to vie for the position of treasurer of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya in the next elections, with her sights eventually set on the presidency, a position no woman has ever held within the institution. “In all this, my goal is to inspire a generation of engineers, especially women, to see no limits to what they can achieve,” she said, “while leaving behind structures that make it easier for them to succeed.” Courtesy of bird story agency: https://agency.birdstoryagency.com/stories/this-engineer-helped-shape-kenya-s-renewable-energy-story?lo Continue Reading