
Kenya
Building rural resilience in Kenya: farming communities leading change
Kenya is a country of immense potential, but many rural communities are facing increasing hardship due to climate change, economic instability, and food insecurity. Prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and rising living costs are making it harder for smallholder farmers to grow enough to eat or earn a stable income.
As an international development charity, Ripple Effect works alongside farming families in Kenya to build resilience through sustainable agriculture, regenerative land management, and rural enterprise development. By gaining practical skills and tools, farming families are leading the way in lifting themselves out of poverty and creating lasting, local change.
Key challenges

Approximately 37% of rural Kenyans live below the national poverty line, struggling to access essentials such as food, healthcare, education, and reliable income (Kenya Poverty and Equity Assessment, World Bank, 2023). Meanwhile, economic inequality remains stark nationally, with a small elite controlling the majority of wealth, deepening the divide between urban and rural populations.

Around 80% of Kenya’s population lives in rural areas and depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for about 33% of the country’s GDP (World Bank, 2023). However, climate shocks such as prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and flooding are increasingly damaging crops and livestock, putting farmers’ incomes and food security at serious risk.

Although Kenya’s overall unemployment rate stands at 12.7%, young people aged 15 to 34, who make up 35% of the population, face a disproportionately high unemployment rate of 67%, according to the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE). This severe lack of job opportunities, especially in rural areas, limits young people’s ability to build livelihoods and contribute economically.
Titus Sagala, Ripple Effect Kenya Country Director
Creating lasting change for Kenyan communities through sustainable agriculture and inclusion
At Ripple Effect, we work closely with communities across Kenya to restore the land and promote climate-smart farming that strengthens food security and builds resilience to a changing climate. Our nutrition and food security programmes improve the health and wellbeing of children and families. We are committed to animal welfare, encouraging sustainable livestock care that supports both people and nature.
Gender equality and social inclusion guide all our work, ensuring women and marginalised groups access training, resources, and decision-making roles. Through youth upskilling and employment initiatives, young people gain practical skills and economic opportunities to shape their own futures. By sharing knowledge and sustainable tools, Ripple Effect nurtures lasting change and stronger communities across Kenya’s rural areas.



Where we are working
Current projects:
- Low Hanging Fruit for Youth Employment - Coastal Kenya (Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa) - 2023-2025
- Thriving with Donkeys - Homabay and Bungoma counties - 2018-2026
- Boresha Mazingira - West Pokot county - 2024-2027
- Scaling Innovations for Reduced and Redistributed (I4RR) Women’s Unpaid Care Work - Bungoma county - 2024-2027
- Sustainable Livestock Production for Improved Livelihoods - Kajiado county - 2025-2027
- Sustainable Food and Environment Improvement - Kakamega county - 2025-2026
Our partners
Our work in Kenya is strengthened by close collaboration with research institutions, development organisations, and private sector partners. From crop and livestock research with KALRO and ILRI to youth-focused agri-enterprise support with MESPT, these partnerships expand the reach and impact of our training. We also work alongside networks like PELUM and ADWOK to advocate for sustainable farming and animal welfare.
Our current projects are funded by:
Get in touch
Office address:
Ripple Effect Kenya Head Office
Kefinco Estate, Finland rd.
House No. 2
P.O. Box 1761 – 50100
Kakamega, Kenya
Tel: (+254) 562 031 242
Email: kenya@rippleeffect.org
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