BAYE Africa Partners with Siaya County to Strengthen Agribusiness Development

BAYE Africa Partners with Siaya County to Strengthen Agribusiness Development

At BAYE Africa, we are driven by a simple but powerful vision: to transform agribusiness into a pathway for youth empowerment, women’s economic participation, and sustainable rural prosperity. On 13th June 2025, we took another bold step in this journey by signing a six-month strategic partnership with the Siaya County Department of Agriculture, the GIZ Agri Jobs 4 Youth Project, and NAVCDP Siaya.

This partnership is about more than collaboration—it is about scaling our proven approaches to agribusiness development, capacity building, and entrepreneurship support across all 30 wards of Siaya County.

Our Role in the Partnership

Through this initiative, BAYE Africa is leading efforts to:

• Equip 36 frontline extension officers with the skills to deliver Business and Enterprise Development Services—turning them into catalysts for agripreneurial growth.

• Co-create a locally designed, action-driven roadmap for agripreneur support alongside farmers, cooperatives, county government, GIZ, NAVCDP teams, and private sector actors.

• Embed entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business acceleration into agricultural extension, ensuring farming is not just about production but about building sustainable enterprises.

This directly supports Siaya’s 2025 Long Rains Campaign under the “Extension in Action” pillar, which integrates technical farming expertise with entrepreneurship training.

Building on Our Journey in Western Kenya

BAYE Africa has a strong track record of strengthening agribusiness ecosystems across Western Kenya. In Siaya and beyond, our programs have laid the groundwork for this partnership:

🌱 Project RYE (Rural Youth Employment)

Launched in February 2024, this program has empowered more than 50 youth from Siaya County with mentorship and coaching in business strategy, financial management, digital marketing, and leadership—preparing them to thrive as agripreneurs.

🌱 Kilimo Ni Ajira Program

In partnership with GIZ and LakeHub, we provided five months of intensive training and mentorship to agri-food entrepreneurs, giving them the networks and skills to access opportunities in the region’s growing agricultural economy.

🌱 Faulu Na Agribiz Incubation Program

Our focus on women-led agribusinesses has created opportunities for women in Western Kenya to access mentorship in branding, financial planning, sustainable practices, and investor readiness. While piloted in Kakamega and Vihiga, its lessons are being applied in Siaya to strengthen women’s role in agribusiness.

Driving Systems Change Through Co-Creation

A key highlight of this partnership has been the co-creation workshop facilitated by BAYE Africa’s expert consultant, Ang’ienda Fredrick. With his guidance, stakeholders across government, farmer cooperatives, private sector, and civil society co-designed the Siaya County Business Development Services (BDS) Framework for Agripreneurs.

This framework is locally owned, inclusive, and action-driven, ensuring that solutions reflect real challenges and real opportunities across poultry, aquaculture, horticulture, and other value chains.

Why This Matters

This partnership is not just about projects—it is about creating a model for agricultural transformation that can be scaled across Kenya and Africa. Together with Siaya County and our partners, BAYE Africa is working to make agriculture:

• Smart – by integrating digital tools and modern agribusiness approaches.

• Scalable – by building market linkages and strengthening farmer organizations.

• Sustainable – by promoting climate-smart practices and resilience.

Looking Ahead

For BAYE Africa, this partnership is a powerful affirmation of our mission: to accelerate young entrepreneurs, empower communities, and transform agribusiness ecosystems.

We believe the future of agriculture in Africa lies in youth-led innovation, inclusivity, and partnerships that put local voices at the center. With Siaya County, GIZ, and NAVCDP, we are proving that transformation is possible when strategy meets action.

🌍 Together, we are building the future of agribusiness in Siaya—and across Africa.

Driving Agribusiness Transformation and Youth Empowerment in Western Kenya

Driving Agribusiness Transformation and Youth Empowerment in Western Kenya

At BAYE Africa, we believe that youth-driven innovation and agribusiness development hold the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. Over the past few years, we have spearheaded several initiatives across Western Kenya that not only strengthen agricultural value chains but also empower young entrepreneurs to thrive.

Here are some of our standout projects:

1. Poultry Aggregation via USSD Platform

To support poultry farmers and strengthen supply chains, BAYE Africa developed a USSD-based registration system (*384*861#). The platform allows farmers to create digital profiles and receive unique traceability codes for their farms.

This innovation:

• Enhances aggregation of poultry products

• Ensures traceability and quality control

• Supports consistent supply for local markets

By digitizing poultry production, we are creating transparency, accountability, and stronger market linkages for smallholder farmers.

2. Youth Sensitization & Mentorship Workshops

In collaboration with county governments and GIZ, BAYE Africa rolled out youth sensitization programs across Vihiga, Siaya, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Bungoma counties.

Highlights include:

• Selection of outstanding agri-entrepreneurs from each sub-county

• An 8-month mentorship program focusing on business growth, branding, and financial performance

• Peer-to-peer learning models that ensure knowledge transfer and value chain sustainability

Through these workshops, we are nurturing a generation of agripreneurs equipped with skills, networks, and resilience to build thriving enterprises.

3. Agribusiness Acceleration & Technical Assistance

As an entrepreneurship support organization, BAYE Africa goes beyond training—we accelerate growth.

Our services include:

• Business acceleration support for MSMEs

• Coaching and mentorship for agri-preneurs

• Workshops, boot camps, and exhibitions to build capacity and market linkages

• Support in financial inclusion, value chain development, and market systems strengthening

These programs bridge the gap between potential and performance, ensuring agribusinesses scale sustainably.

4. Case Study Recognition

BAYE Africa’s impact has been recognized beyond Kenya. Strathmore University’s Africa Case Centre developed a case study showcasing:

• Strategic decisions in scaling a social enterprise

• The evolution of our business model post-COVID

• Key lessons in sustainability and impact-driven leadership

This recognition affirms our role as a thought leader in building resilient agribusiness ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

Our journey demonstrates the power of innovation, inclusivity, and youth-led solutions in shaping Africa’s future. At BAYE Africa, we remain committed to transforming agribusiness ecosystems, empowering communities, and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

👉 Learn more about our programs at www.bayeafrica.org

Why Youth in Agribusiness Hold the Key to Kenya’s Food and Economic Future

Kenya’s youth unemployment rate stands at 67%, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. At the same time, over 70% of Kenya’s rural population depends on agriculture yet the sector contributes less than 25% to GDP. The problem is really not a lack of land or talent but its more of how we structure opportunity.

BAYE Africa believes the future of food, jobs, and climate action in Kenya depends on putting the right tools in the hands of youth, especially those in rural and marginalized regions of Kenya and Africa at large, and among young women and persons with disabilities, who are often excluded from economic programs.