Traditional Seeds, Modern Solutions: First Lady Supports Grassroots Food Resilience in Baringo

On May 14, 2025, First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto visited Koibatek in Baringo County to launch the National Kitchen Gardens program under the “Mama Doing Good” initiative. The program aims to promote food security, enhance household nutrition, and empower women and communities through sustainable agriculture.

During the event, the First Lady toured several exhibition stands and made a special stop at the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) stand. There, she engaged with representatives to discuss various indigenous seed samples that had been displayed. The conversation focused on the importance of traditional seeds in enhancing nutrition, food resilience, and biodiversity through kitchen gardens.

KOWYN’s participation highlighted the organization’s dedication to empowering indigenous communities, especially women and youth, through climate-smart agriculture and food sovereignty initiatives. The First Lady expressed interest in the seed samples and emphasized the importance of community-driven agricultural solutions.

This visit marked a significant recognition of KOWYN’s efforts and created new opportunities for collaboration in national food and nutrition programs. The event was an important milestone in strengthening the partnership between grassroots organizations and national initiatives aimed at sustainable development.