By Shadrack Nyakoe
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has launched a major initiative to address food insecurity in Kitui County, distributing 17 metric tonnes of certified drought-resistant seeds to 2,160 farming households.
Each household received 4 kilograms of green grams and 4 kilograms of cowpeas, sufficient to plant one acre each, with the aim of producing an estimated 1,360 tonnes of green grams and 1,166 tonnes of cowpeas.
This seed distribution follows six months of training on climate-resilient agriculture and environmental restoration. Kitui County faces nutritional challenges, with 1 in 4 children stunted and only 15% of farmers using certified seeds. In response, the NCCK’s broader Nature Positive project, in partnership with the Canadian Food Grain Bank and the United Church of Canada, is focused on improving climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.
A recent donation of 60 water tanks, each holding 10,000 liters, was also made to local schools and churches, aiming to further support food security and water access in the region.
The distribution was overseen by Kitui Governor Julius Malobe and NCCK General Secretary Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui.