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Conflicts remain one of the key disruptors of social, economic, and political development. According to the Armed Conflicts Location and Events Data September 2024 report, Kenya is among the high-risk Horn of Africa countries where violence could erupt at any time in 2025. The Gen Z demonstrations in June 2024, alongside medical practitioners and teachers picketing, highlighted the potential for such disturbances. With aspirations for food and nutrition security through inclusive, innovative, collaborative, and dynamic food systems — and just five years away from the Vision 2030 milestone — proactively addressing the sources of conflicts is imperative.

Tackling youth unemployment is one of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of conflicts, and a robust food system offers significant opportunities to achieve this.

Why focus on food systems? A food system encompasses all activities and actors involved in the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. Agriculture, the backbone of Kenya’s economy, lies at the heart of this system. Deliberate efforts to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness will ensure young people are meaningfully engaged along the food system continuum.

As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Without meaningful engagement, disillusionment and desperation create fertile ground for conflicts to thrive. This challenge must be addressed decisively in 2025.

Developing rural areas to create employment opportunities offers a sustainable pathway. The introduction of Competence-Based Education and Training in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions — which focuses on building specific skills and competencies through vocational training centres in every constituency — is a positive step forward. However, greater emphasis is needed to ensure these institutions equip students with entrepreneurial skills that enable them to create sustainable livelihoods.

With over 50 percent of Kenyan high school students scoring a grade of D+ or below in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), many are excluded from formal tertiary education and lack the skills needed for white- and blue-collar employment. This phenomenon has exacerbated rural-urban migration, straining resources in cities and towns and increasing the likelihood of conflict. Reversing this trend by encouraging urban-to-rural migration through localised development initiatives is essential.

Partnership and collaboration are critical to breaking silos and fostering development. Can primary and secondary schools collaborate with technical and vocational training institutions to enhance learning and accelerate employment? The answer is a resounding yes.

The renewed focus on reviving 4K Clubs (Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya) and addressing food and nutritional insecurity presents new opportunities for enterprise development within the food system. Combined with the dual TVET approach, which emphasises practical skills, these initiatives could drive accelerated growth while reducing the risk of conflict.

— The writer is a UN global food systems Youth Leader, a vocational and technical Trainer, and a climate change and food system policy communication Consultant-