Kenya Context Assessment Report: A desk-top review of the context of agroecological principles of Kiambu and Makueni counties
Nyawira, S.; Bolo, P.; Ntinyari, W.; Orero, L.; Onyango, K.; Manjella, A.; Sakha, M.; Owili, S.O; Gumo, P.; Mbelwa, M.; Korir, H.; Fuchs, L.E.
December (2023)
Abstract
The CGIAR Agroecology Initiative (AE-I) is built around the concept and approach of Living Landscapes that promote an integrated approach to engaging with the social system and ecosystems in given spaces in support of agroecological transitions. The Kenyan Agroecological Living Landscapes (ALLs) are established in two different counties: Makueni and Kiambu. This context document provides a literature review assessment of the status of agroecology in the two counties. It summarizes the environmental, economic, social, and political context of Makueni and Kiambu counties, along with the status, opportunities, and areas of interventions along the 13 FAO principles on agroecology.
The Kenyan ALLs will be hosted in CSHEP and DNRC, which are part of the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) association. This document provides an assessment of the status of the two centers in adopting agroecological innovations and a summary of the key ongoing activities along the 13 principles. Some of the key highlights are the current ongoing work on organic farming in the centers, which mainly focuses on composting, application of organic pesticides, water recycling and harvesting, seed saving, and agroforestry, among others. The document also provides a detailed summary of the key relevant stakeholders that are involved in promoting agroecology in Kenya.