Kenya is famed for its stunning landscapes, magnificent Indian Ocean coastlines, and an incredible diversity of wildlife.
A popular tourist destination, with a population of 56 million, Kenya has made significant economic advancements in recent years and reached lower-middle income status in 2014.
Despite these gains, challenges persist. Large parts of Kenya face significant levels of food insecurity, with the effects of climate change an important factor. Persistent and severe droughts are having catastrophic impacts on farming communities. Nearly one in ten Kenyans face crisis levels of food insecurity.
Ireland’s relationship with Kenya
Diplomatic relations were established in 1979, with Ireland’s Embassy was opened in the same year. Although the Embassy closed for a number of years, it was reopened in 2014. Over this time, Ireland has worked in Kenya with the Government and partners on a range of shared development cooperation priorities.
Our work is driven by a commitment to reach the furthest behind with a strong gender equality focus. Our priorities include sustainable food systems, climate smart agriculture, STEM education, inclusive governance and gender, and strengthening private sector engagement and two-way trade.
Background
Kenya has made significant political and economic reforms that have resulted in major gains in social development. These include reducing child mortality, achieving near universal primary school enrolment, and narrowing gender gaps in education. However, key development challenges still remain. These include poverty, inequality, youth unemployment, debt, transparency and accountability, vulnerability of the economy to internal and external shocks and the impact of climate change.
In 2022, Kenya was nearer to closing its gender gap compared to previous years. Ranking 57 (out of 146), this compared to 95 out of 156 countries in 2021 in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report.
Work to attain the constitution’s 2/3 gender principle for women’s political representation continues. Kenya is providing leadership on a variety of fronts – from peace and security in the region, to significantly reducing the instances of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). It’s also working to embrace the green transition – including hosting the first ever Africa Climate Summit in 2023.
Ireland's work
Led by Ireland's Embassy in Nairobi, our work in the country focuses on the following areas:
Sustainable food systems
Ireland focuses on supporting the development of Kenya’s sustainable agriculture sector guided by Our Shared Interest: The Ireland/Kenya Agri-food Strategy (IKAFS), launched in 2017. This particularly focuses on the potato and the dairy value chains, including climate-smart innovations. We also work to increase the number of women involved in the agricultural sector by reducing barriers to trade and strengthening access to markets.
Increased production
Ireland's support to the potato sector focuses on increasing productivity through the adoption of new technologies, improved seed varieties and consistent implementation of good agricultural practices (GAPs). This work also concentrates on farm managements skills and greater market access. The impact of small levels of support have had far-reaching effects. Thousands of farmers have increased yields by over 50%.
In the dairy sector, Ireland and Kenya have a well-established institutional partnership. This is underpinned by research and innovation and a commitment to shared learning.
The partnership is working to build the first ever Economic Breeding Index in Kenya, strengthening feed production and conservation and dairy industry skills development. The climate-smart dairy research targets smallholder farmers and cooperatives in the dairy value chain, boosting their productivity and climate proofing their livelihoods.
STEM Education
The Irish Embassy in Kenya and the Kenyan Ministry of Education are the founding members of Young Scientists Kenya (YSK). YSK was launched in 2017 based on the hugely successful BT Young Scientists and Technology Exhibition in Ireland.
Since 2018, YSK has been rolled out across all 47 counties in Kenya, reaching over 200,000 students from over 700 secondary schools. ‘Leaving no learner behind’ YSK ensures an inclusive approach that embraces in particular girls in STEM. It encourages young innovators to apply their talents to real world challenges.
Inclusive governance and gender equality
In Kenya the Irish Embassy works with UNDP and its local partners to address critical gaps in civic education and youth and women’s political participation. This is undertaken through our contribution to the Consolidating Democratic Dividends for Sustainable Transformation in Kenya (‘Deepening Democracy’) project.
Ireland works to mainstream gender equality throughout all our work – from women in trade to women in agriculture to women in STEM and politics. Ireland partners with UN Women/OHCHR to support their work on preventing Gender Bases Violence (GBV) in elections and strengthening women’s participation in the political life of Kenya.
Trade promotion
Ireland works to foster the expansion of trade and business links between Ireland and Kenya. Within our development cooperation portfolio, we work to create an enabling environment for the private sector. Our work focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs and traders, particularly in the agriculture sector.
For example, the Embassy partners with Trademark Africa (TMA) on their Women in Trade project to improve access to markets. The project targets 7,000 women producers, aggregators and traders and women-owned or women-led MSMEs. By the end of 2022, over 17,000 new female entrepreneurs had accessed the Women in Trade platforms.
The Embassy has also worked with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) to deliver mentoring to women and youth-owned M/SMEs. These sessions focused on sustaining jobs, increasing revenues, and protecting businesses through Covid-19.
To support the growing interest from Irish companies, keen to invest in the region, the Embassy works with Business Ireland Kenya (BIK). This is an association of over 100 actively engaged members, to build networks and share learning.
Collaborating with Enterprise Ireland
The Embassy of Ireland in Kenya takes a Team Ireland approach to support its objectives. Working closely with Enterprise Ireland (EI) on trade promotion and economic development, the Team Ireland team supports the growth of exports and investment and development cooperation.
EI is a government agency of Ireland’s Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE), responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets with a key focus in agriculture, ICT, food and drink and aviation sectors.
With a growing number of clients, Enterprise Ireland (EI) is present in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. EI is currently working with a pathfinder in Nairobi as a potential precursor to establishing a dedicated East Africa office in Nairobi in the coming two years.
Regional humanitarian action
The Embassy actively monitors the humanitarian context across its countries of accreditation. Kenya hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa.
Somalia remains one of the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crises in the world. Millions have been impacted by chronic drought conditions increasing displacement and catastrophic food insecurity.
Sudan – one of the world’s most fragile states - is now enmeshed in an expanding and devastating conflict between armed factions.
Eritrea continues to be one of the lowest ranked countries on the human development index.
Training in product development and increasing market access
Claire Onzee is the CEO and founder of Shirlam Investment Limited, a Kenyan registered company based in Mumias, Kakamega County and a small enterprise working in agri-food sector.
Shirlam Investment engaged in producing and marketing orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The company struggled with post-harvest losses due to lack of storage facilities and management challenges. Shirlam’s fresh produce would rot before reaching the markets. They would be forced to sell at low prices, or sometimes giving freely to pig farmers. The company suffered losses in 2020 and almost closed down in 2021.
Supporting women-led businesses
A partnership between Trademark Africa and Partner Africa – funded by Embassy Nairobi to support women-led small businesses in the agriculture sector – presented an opportunity to Claire and her failing business.
Shirlam was able to participate in an SME training and mentoring programme organised by Partner Africa in Nairobi. They received knowledge and skills building from stakeholders such as Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI) on product development, branding, marketing, and business management.
New product development
As a result of this exposure and learning, the company developed seven new products such as sweet potato flour and baby weaning flour trading under the name Zen Havenn.
Shirlam is now purchasing directly from 50 farmers in Kakamega county and is expanding to 200 in Bungoma county. The company has offered direct employment to a team of six sales people and intends to increase as the business continues to grow.
The company has sold 6000kgs in the last 16 months and has realised an increase in revenue from Ksh 248,000 (€1,734) to Ksh 2,000,000 (approximately €13,986) since its engagement in value added food processing and the Embassy-funded Trademark Africa Women in Trade project.