Despite the myriads of challenges that Mombasa residents face, climate change has far-reaching impacts on its residents’ environment, economy, and well-being.

Just like any urban area, where farming is a challenge, Mombasa County is not different, urban poverty in Mombasa has been a persistent issue, with notable disparities in access to food and essential services, Data shows that around 23.6% of Mombasa’s residents live below the poverty line and (22.7-24.5) % of the household are food insecure, with majority of them relying on informal sector employment while facing challenges of ever rising cost of living.

Majority of Youth and women in Mombasa are unemployed, even with a call for them to embrace alternative employment opportunities such as green and blue opportunities, there are many impediment to that call including inadequate knowledge, financial resources, restricted land access to partake in green economy, and inadequate agricultural extension services that further limits their capacity to adopt sustainable practices. Urban and peri-urban agriculture offers a promising solution, allowing low-income households to grow their own food, reduce costs, and boost food security.

KECOSCE through the Resilience Peace and Security Project (RPS) in partnership with the Agriculture department, Meteorological department and Kenya agriculture and livestock research organization (KALRO), conducted a comprehensive training for Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) targeting women and youth groups from Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa Counties on climate-smart agriculture The training equipped the participants with knowledge on climate change impacts, urban agriculture, conservation agriculture, manure management, and poultry farming to enhance their resilience and self-employment. Through the project the Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) were encouraged cascade knowledge through community outreach to encourage wider uptake of the climate smart agriculture technologies and create a group of champions who can be role models within their society.

Mr. Abdullah Koi, a participant, decided to take his own initiative to cascade the training to his own farmer group and later started to advocate for smart agriculture by rallying youth in local maskanis to embrace farming. and started helping some households in his localities in setting up kitchen gardens. “I started teaching my neighbors kitchen garden where they are utilizing the spaces at the balcony or backyard of their homes”. He said. So far Mr. Koi is working with his trained member to conduct weekly sensitization forums on smart agriculture techniques rallying communities to embrace urban farming to reduce vulnerabilities.

Through his intensified awareness, about 4 community groups in Shanzu area of Kisauni sub county, have embraced the urban farming and boosting food nutrition and security.