By Habil Onyango.
For a long time, young Kenyans have held a negative view of agriculture, favouring white-collar jobs instead.
In the early 1990s, the Kenyan education system promoted agriculture’s value through the 4K Club. The four Ks represent “Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya” in Kiswahili, meaning “coming together, to act, to help Kenya.” However, changes in the curriculum led to the 4K Clubs’ decline, contributing to food insecurity and prompting the government to consider relaunching the club to inspire youth to lead agribusiness.
Responding to this need, the Sigona Thomas Foundation (STF), a non-governmental organization, is taking the lead in reintroducing 4K Clubs and establishing Farmer Field Schools to encourage a positive view of agriculture among primary school students across Homa Bay County. According to STF’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kefa Onyango, the program will manage and implement 4K Clubs as a climate action initiative with funding at the village and household levels in Homa Bay and beyond.
STF’s approach involves reinstating 4K Clubs in all schools within Homa Bay County’s 40 wards. “When we identify a school, we provide tree seedlings to 4K Club members to sell and save earnings,” explained Onyango. Pupils are also encouraged to plant fruit trees and vegetables at home, which supplements family income and improves nutrition. “When a student waters a tree, they also tend the vegetables around it, which helps reduce household expenses and supports environmental preservation,” he added.
Each school with a 4K Club is expected to establish a Farmer Field School, including tree nurseries. Partnering with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), 4K Club members open ‘Cub Accounts,’ introducing young students to financial literacy early. These accounts enable pupils to save for school fees, easing future financial pressures on families.
“Young people from low-income households often miss school because of financial constraints,” Onyango said. “Teaching financial literacy to both children and parents helps reduce school dropout rates and addresses poverty.”
STF also aims to foster climate action through green investments in climate resilience and low-carbon initiatives, promoting sustainable development by supporting community-led efforts at the village level. Two primary schools in Homa Bay have been designated as model centres for the 4K Club program. “Our objective is to shift the perception of agribusiness as a career, showing young Kenyans that they can contribute to food security and earn income for their education,” said Onyango.
STF’s programme manager, Steve Amolo, highlighted that this program is part of a broader mission to engage youth in agriculture and related fields such as livestock, fisheries, and cooperatives. Through Farmer Field Schools, the program promotes youth development with a focus on competency, confidence, connection, contribution, and character building. It integrates smart agriculture practices in a community-centred model.
“Our rebranded 4K Clubs emphasize themes like agricultural projects, agri-nutrition, environmental conservation, STEM, civic engagement, and the Presidential Award Scheme,” Amolo explained. Partnering with KCB, the program offers an 8.5% annual return on Cub Account savings, fostering a savings culture that helps prevent dropout rates due to financial difficulties.
With activated accounts, students can save earnings from their agricultural work to support their education later. “We’ve opened and activated accounts for 150 4K Club members at Ngere Primary School so far,” Amolo noted. The program also began at Janeiro Junior Academy, where a two-acre plot has been donated for use as a Farmer Field School.
“Once the vegetables and seedlings mature, students will sell them and deposit the earnings into their Cub Accounts,” Amolo said. “We provide farming inputs and an agronomist to guide students in profitable agriculture practices.” Youth nationwide are encouraged to join 4K Clubs to gain knowledge on agriculture, nutrition, environmental science, and STEM skills essential for personal and community development.
STF is actively identifying, training, and supporting green champions and revitalizing 4K Clubs across public and private primary schools in all 40 wards of Homa Bay. Additionally, the organization promotes climate action, focusing on a tree-planting campaign in eight Kenyan counties to combat deforestation and land degradation.
Philip Aduda, Head Teacher at Janeiro Junior Academy, noted that as a boarding school reliant on vegetables, they will buy produce directly from 4K Club members, allowing them to deposit their earnings. “This initiative shows students that agriculture, alongside education, can be a path to financial security,” said Aduda.
Gorrety Ouko, a 4K Club member, mentioned that the land donated at Janeiro Junior Academy allows students to learn modern farming techniques, supporting their education and their community. She emphasized the benefit for students from less fortunate backgrounds in saving for future school fees.
Dave Rabuor from STF’s Monitoring and Evaluation team explained that STF’s activities include forming steering committees, mapping primary schools, and organizing orientation sessions to support village development and Ward Climate Change Committees.
STF’s campaign targets planting 140 million trees, restoring landscapes, and reducing carbon emissions, enhancing crop productivity. STF has planted over 50,000 seedlings across schools in Homa Bay and Migori Counties so far. Additionally, STF promotes financial literacy for parents and students, establishes ‘Orundu’ smart gardens, and supports ward-level climate planning, along with a green bio-carbon zone. Currently, Kenya has approximately 1,250 registered 4K Clubs in primary schools, with over 70,000 members across the country. Any child aged 8-15 in primary school is eligible to join the 4K Club.
