Narok youth benefit from AI training to boost agribusiness

In a significant effort to modernise agriculture and empower the youth, MAACOM Charity, in collaboration with Maasai Mara University and the KCB Foundation, has launched a fully sponsored six-month agribusiness training program for 100 young people across Narok County.

This program targets youth from vulnerable backgrounds in all 30 wards and aims to equip them with practical skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable farming practices, thereby paving the way for income generation and self-reliance.

During the official registration ceremony held in Narok East, Senator Ledama Ole Kina, founder of MAACOM Charity, emphasised the need to redirect youth engagement with technology toward productive use.

“Our youth have immense potential, but are often using AI and social media for the wrong reasons. This program will help shift their focus and train them to lead in agricultural innovation,” he stated.

Senator Ole Kina highlighted his concerns regarding the increasing issues of youth unemployment and digital addiction in the county. His goal is to transform negative behaviours into entrepreneurship by equipping young people with market-ready skills.

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Professor Peninnah Aloo Abudho, Vice Chancellor of Maasai Mara University, welcomed the collaboration, noting its potential for economic transformation.

“This partnership allows us to skill the youth in areas that directly address job market demands. Through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, we’re integrating AI with practical agribusiness training to prepare them for the future,” she explained.

The curriculum includes machine learning, satellite imaging, mobile agricultural applications, and AI-driven systems for crop disease detection, smart irrigation, market forecasting, and supply chain management.

Brian Matara, Business Manager at KCB Narok, stated that the bank's role is to support youth as they transition from informal to formal agribusiness.

“We aim to empower them with technical skills and certification to grow microenterprises into viable businesses,” he said.

To further boost their success, MAACOM Charity will host an additional one-month marketing boot camp focused on branding and business development.

Among the beneficiaries is 24-year-old Gloria Seneyia from Kilgoris, who missed attending university after high school. “I am eager to learn how AI can transform farming. I plan to pursue higher education after this,” she said.

The program aligns with Kenya’s broader digital and agricultural development agenda, and there are plans to expand it to other counties in the future.