EVALUATING GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON YOUTH-DRIVEN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA

Abstract

Agriculture remains the cornerstone of Kenya's economy, contributing approximately 33% of Gross Domestic Product and employing over 40% of the population. However, youth participation in the sector continues to decline despite high unemployment rates among young people exceeding 38%. The Kenyan government has developed numerous policy frameworks including the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy 2019-2029, Kenya Youth Agribusiness Strategy 2018-2022, and Kenya Youth Development Policy 2019 aimed at integrating youth into agricultural value chains. This paper evaluated the effectiveness of these government policies in promoting youth-driven agriculture and rural development in Kenya. The paper adopted a desktop research methodology, reviewing and synthesizing secondary data from government policy documents, peer-reviewed journal articles, institutional reports, and statistical publications. The analysis was anchored on Human Capital Theory which posits that investments in education, skills development, and enabling environments enhance individual productivity and economic contribution. Findings revealed significant gaps between policy articulation and implementation outcomes. Structural barriers including limited land access due to customary tenure systems, financial exclusion arising from stringent collateral requirements, inadequate skills development programs, and weak rural digital infrastructure continue to constrain youth engagement in agriculture. Coordination failures among government ministries and development partners resulted in fragmented interventions with limited sustainability. Monitoring and evaluation systems remained inadequate for evidence-based policy refinement. The paper concludes that existing policies have largely failed to translate into tangible opportunities for youth in agriculture, threatening Kenya's food security and rural economic vitality as the farming population ages without adequate generational replacement. Recommendations include establishing youth land banks, developing dedicated agricultural credit facilities, reforming agricultural education curricula, accelerating rural digital infrastructure investments, instituting interministerial coordination mechanisms, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to track youth agricultural engagement outcomes.

Keywords: Government Policies, Youth-Driven Agriculture & Rural Development