HOMA-BAY YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS CBO

Homa-Bay Youths in Agribusiness CBO (HOYAB) deserves the Youth in Business Award for demonstrating that young people can move beyond seeking employment to building and owning opportunities within agriculture.

Founded by young people in 2024, HOYAB has developed a countywide youth agribusiness network spanning 8 sub-counties and 40 wards, bringing young people together through value chains including aquaculture, horticulture, apiculture, poultry and livestock. In partnership with the County Government of Homa-Bay and other public, private and development actors, HOYAB is creating practical pathways for young people to participate as producers, entrepreneurs, aggregators, service providers and future employers.

This vision is already taking shape at Mirunda, where HOYAB, together with Midas Touch Foundation, is developing an integrated youth agrifood learning, innovation and enterprise ecosystem anchored by three fish ponds alongside horticulture, apiculture and livestock activities. The site is designed to give young people practical experience, expose them to technology, support enterprise development and connect them to markets.

What makes HOYAB distinctive is its focus on enterprise ownership. We are deliberately moving young people from being beneficiaries of agricultural programmes to becoming producers, agripreneurs, service providers and employers. Through our youth groups and value-chain structures, young people are encouraged to develop individual and group enterprises that can generate income and grow.

HOYAB therefore represents more than an agricultural youth organisation. It is building a countywide ecosystem where young people can enter agriculture, build businesses, create livelihoods and eventually create opportunities for others. Recognising HOYAB would recognise a growing generation of young Kenyans choosing to build their future through agriculture and agribusiness.