Like most African countries, Kenya is at the forefront of the climate crisis, grappling with severe droughts followed by heavy rainfall and flooding over the last year alone. These extreme weather events displace thousands of people, destroy livelihoods, and degrade land. Agriculture remains the leading economic driver in the country and is vital to food security, but it is highly vulnerable to these climate shocks. Rural communities in Kenya that rely on crops — 95% of which are rain-fed — and livestock are particularly at risk.
One notable individual dedicated to revolutionizing Kenya’s agriculture sector to combat climate change and food insecurity is Mary Muthoni Wangari. A trainee lawyer and grassroots activist, Wangari is passionate about food justice, social justice, and climate action within marginalized communities in Kenya and across the continent. So, we thought we’d spotlight her as a young leader.
Wangari is a dedicated youth coordinator at Haki Nawiri Afrika, focusing on food security, agriculture, and youth empowerment. At just 24 years old, she believes everyone has a role to play in shaping Africa’s future, and so she is committed to being a catalyst for positive change in her community and beyond. Her role at Haki Nawiri Afrika equips young people with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change within their communities.
“I get to create a bridge between climate justice and youth empowerment,” she said of the work.
Founded in 2019 by activists and university students from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, Haki Nawiri Afrika aims to advance social justice in marginalized communities. The organization envisions a world where everyone can enjoy their rights, irrespective of social class.
“Hawiri Nawiri Afrika is focused on empowering youth, students, women, smallholder farmers, and communities impacted by climate change,” the young activist told us. “We aim to promote solidarity on issues affecting these groups while enhancing social justice for marginalized populations and fostering transformative leadership, particularly among youth and women.”
Central to this mission are four pillars: food justice, gender justice, climate justice, and youth engagement.
“Food justice focuses on political and technical education surrounding the food production process and policy engagement for sustainable production and consumption,” Wangari explained.
She also explained that her work under the climate justice pillar involves documenting the impacts of climate change through community experiences through community dialogues and policy engagement. More than this, Wangari is a passionate advocate for agroecology, believing it can combat food insecurity in her home country.
An elderly Kenyan woman is pounding millet seeds, demonstrating traditional food preparation as part of Mary Muthoni Wangari and Haki Nawiri Afrika's program to empower women in agriculture.
“It is important to me to transform my community through agroecology because it directly addresses the challenges we face through climate resilience to achieve food security,” she told Global Citizen.
“This is because agroecology empowers communities to adopt sustainable farming practices that not only protect the environment but also enhance local food systems,” she continued. “Our impact goes beyond nurturing our land, our people, and our planet. “
Agroecology is a holistic approach to food production that combines ecological and social principles to develop sustainable agriculture and food systems. The point is to strengthen the relationship between plants, humans, and the environment while fostering fair food systems that empower individuals to make informed choices about their food and how and where it’s produced.
Despite being a young leader in this field, Wangari exudes confidence: “Yes, I am young, but I’m impactful,” she said, reflecting on the benefits and challenges of her role.
“One of the benefits of working in such spaces is that I get to work with other young people. We bring fresh and innovative perspectives to the table. As young people, we are the ones we have been waiting for. The time is now. We must act now.”
Adapting to climate change calls for widening the options for farmers. As such, Muthoni shared that she has faced challenges convincing local farmers in Kenya to embrace agroecology for climate resilience. “It has been difficult to convince communities of farmers to change their farming practices. Some local farmers did not even understand climate change,” she said.
Reflecting on the early days of her initiative in Kaani, Machakos County, Wangari embarked on an educational effort aimed at teaching local farmers the ways of agroecology.
“We had to be patient and collaborate with local leaders to build trust,” she explained. “Through community dialogues, we ensured that farmers’ ideas were brought on board, and together, we were able to move forward and create sustainable impact, leaving no local farmer behind.”
Looking ahead, Wangari and Haki Nawiri Afrika have ambitious plans to expand their agroecology work. They aim to reach more geographical areas beyond their current focus in Nairobi, Machakos, Siaya, and Baringo to promote food security for all. This includes setting up an agroecological demonstration farm, which Wangari explained “will provide skills training and promote healthy diets through partnerships with local institutions.”
Mary Muthoni Wangari helps school children plant seeds in a garden at a local Kenyan school. This is part of her program with Haki Nawiri Afrika, mentoring young people on agroecology and climate resilience.
“We also want to contribute towards agroecological entrepreneurship by actively engaging in the value chain. This can create meaningful employment opportunities for youth and local farmers,” she said.
Educating the next generation in agroecology is a key priority for Wangari and Haki Nawiri Afrika. She mentioned that one of the organization’s long-term goals is “to continue partnering with more primary and secondary schools to reach over 100,000 students through our agroecology programs in re-greening schools and landscapes.” Additionally, she shared that Haki Nawiri Afrika aspires “to create a movement of 250,000 farmers through our Agroecology for Climate Resilience Program.”
Youth activism rising in response to global issues like climate change, both in her home country and around the world, has inspired and impacted the young activist deeply.
"What a time to be young! There is an immense sense of pride and hope. The future is promising. I am reminded to rise up with my peers, speak out, stand in the gap for my generation, and fight for the future we want to see."
Through her dedication and innovative spirit, Wangari demonstrates the power of youth leadership on the African continent, tackling pressing environmental and social issues with groundbreaking and sustainable solutions.