By Roy Hezron
The Cabinet has approved the revival of the 4K clubs in schools.
In a dispatch to newsrooms after a meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, the Cabinet said the clubs would interest more children in agriculture.
“Mindful that the average age of the Kenyan farmer is 60 years, the Cabinet considered and approved the policy on the revival of 4K-Agricultural Clubs in all schools,” read the statement.
It added: “This endeavour seeks to foster the interest of children in agriculture, so as to usher a new generation of techno-savvy agricultural players who will revolutionise every aspect of agriculture in Kenya.”
The Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Anne Nyaga will be spearheading the programme.
4K stands for Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya, loosely translated as coming together, to act, in order to help Kenya.
The clubs, which died in the early 1990s, involved engaging learners in hands-on activities in school demonstration gardens.
Over the last two decades there have been attempts to revive the clubs but without a national steering plan.
Some education stakeholders have, however, introduced the clubs in some schools.
Prof Ruth Oniang’o, through her Rural Outreach Programme (ROP) Africa Organization, is sponsoring 4K Clubs in 20 schools in Kakamega County where pupils produce food that not only supplements school feeding programmes but is also a source of income.
At Shisango Primary School in Kakamega, 42 members of the school’s 4K Club are growing sweet potatoes, indigenous vegetables, tomatoes as well as keeping goats and indigenous chicken.
Agriculture contributes 26 per cent of Kenya’s GDP and 27 per cent through linkages with other sectors. The sector employs more than 40 per cent of the total population and more than 70 per cent of the rural population.
The sector accounts for 65 per cent of the export earnings and provides income for more than 80 per cent of the Kenyan population.
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