Hauwa Ali
In the heart of Kibera, Nairobi’s largest informal settlement, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root. Sixteen-year-old Mercy Mmboga, a student at Olympic Secondary School, once dreamed of becoming a doctor. But her aspirations took a surprising turn when she encountered hydroponics—a soil-less farming technique that grows crops using nutrient-rich water solutions. Fascinated by the simplicity and efficiency of the method, Mmboga now envisions a future as a farmer.
“I was amazed,” Mmboga says, standing beside rows of spinach sprouting from recycled yogurt containers and drainpipes. “I had never seen crops grow without soil. I want to become a farmer and teach others in my community how to grow food like this.”
Hydroponics, once viewed as a futuristic technology, is becoming a lifeline for urban communities like Kibera, where space is limited, water is scarce, and food security is a daily struggle. This farming technique, which uses up to 90% less water and 75% less space than traditional agriculture, is being hailed as a sustainable solution to urban hunger and malnutrition, especially in the face of rapid urbanization and climate change.
Kibera, like many densely populated urban areas, struggles with chronic food insecurity. A 2017 study found that one in five children in the settlement suffered from stunted growth due to malnutrition. Access to nutritious foods like vegetables is limited, and those that are available are often too expensive for many families. In this context, hydroponics offers a glimmer of hope.
The World Food Programme (WFP) recognized the potential of hydroponics to address these challenges and launched the H2Grow project in 2022. The initiative, which has since expanded to 15 schools across Kenya, including Kibera, aims to introduce young people to climate-friendly farming while improving nutrition for students.
At Olympic Secondary School, the hydroponic unit has been a game-changer. Vegetables like spinach, kale, and tomatoes are grown on-site and harvested twice a week, providing fresh, nutritious food for the school’s 1,200 students. For many, this is their only regular source of dark leafy greens, which are essential for a balanced diet.
“We know that good nutrition is essential for children’s learning and development,” says Brian Wanene, WFP’s portfolio innovation manager. “By integrating hydroponics into school meals, we’re not only improving access to nutritious food but also teaching students valuable skills about sustainable agriculture.”
Mmboga’s passion for hydroponics extends beyond the classroom. Inspired by what she learned in school, she built her own hydroponic system at a friend’s house using recycled materials such as plastic drainpipes and scrap metal. She now grows kale and spinach in a narrow courtyard, providing her family with nutritious food and even earning a small income by selling surplus produce to her neighbors for around KSh 300 per week.
“We use a small piece of land, so it’s very economical,” Mmboga explains. “I’m able to sell some of the vegetables to my neighbors and help feed my family. This is how I want to make a difference in my community.”
Mmboga’s dream is to scale up her farming operation and eventually create employment for others. “In slum areas like Kibera, we struggle with food shortages,” she says. “Once I become a farmer, I’ll teach others about hydroponics and create jobs for many people.”
Mmboga’s ambition comes at a crucial time for Kenya’s agricultural sector, which is currently dominated by older generations. Most Kenyan farmers are between 50 and 65 years old, and traditional subsistence farming practices remain widespread. The Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges that the sector has yet to fully exploit the potential of young people, who often view farming as a last-resort career, burdened by low pay and hard labor.
However, hydroponics is changing that narrative. By showcasing farming as a modern, innovative, and profitable venture, the H2Grow project is attracting a new generation of climate-smart farmers who are eager to contribute to Kenya’s food security.
In addition to its benefits for urban food security, hydroponics offers a sustainable solution to the environmental challenges posed by climate change. The technique uses significantly less water than traditional farming, making it ideal for water-scarce regions like Kenya. Furthermore, because it requires less space, it can be practiced in dense urban environments where arable land is limited.
The WFP’s H2Grow project has been so successful in Kibera that it has expanded to semi-arid regions of Kenya, including Wajir, Isiolo, and Makueni. In these areas, where droughts and erratic rainfall patterns threaten food production, hydroponics is providing farmers with a resilient alternative to conventional agriculture.
“We’re helping to build a generation of farmers who are equipped to deal with the challenges of climate change,” Wanene says. “Hydroponics is not just about growing food—it’s about securing a future where people have access to nutritious food, even in the face of environmental shocks.”
The potential for hydroponics to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Kenya is significant. Agriculture remains the backbone of the country’s economy, directly contributing 30% of its GDP. However, youth unemployment remains a persistent issue, with many young people struggling to find formal employment.
Hydroponics offers a solution by creating opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurship. As Mmboga has demonstrated, young farmers can grow nutritious food even in tight urban spaces and earn a steady income from their efforts. This not only helps address food insecurity but also provides a pathway for economic independence.
As Kenya continues to urbanize, the need for innovative solutions like hydroponics will become increasingly urgent. By empowering young people to embrace climate-friendly farming techniques, projects like H2Grow are laying the foundation for a more food-secure and sustainable future.
For Mmboga and her peers, hydroponics is more than just a method of farming—it’s a tool for transformation. In her words: “We can solve the problem of food shortages in our community. And we can do it ourselves.”
