Garissa County is on the move. Once defined by pastoralism, the region is now embracing agro-pastoralism, blending tradition with modern farming practices, and digital innovation is at the heart of this transformation.
Governor Nathif Jama Adam captured the spirit of this shift during Garissa Farmers’ Day, “We are moving slowly but surely from pastoralism to becoming agro pastors.”
This is not just about changing how food is grown. It’s about building resilience, strengthening cooperatives, and opening new pathways for farmers, youth, and households to thrive in Kenya’s digital economy.
Farmers and Cooperatives: From Survival to Sustainability
According to Governor Nathif, Garissa’s cooperatives are becoming more productive, with members contributing actively to community growth. Market linkages are being developed to connect farmers directly to buyers, cutting out middlemen and boosting incomes.
For Muslim farmers, he noted that Sharia-compliant financial products are being introduced, ensuring that access to credit and investment opportunities is inclusive. The county is also fast tracking plans to establish a dedicated cooperatives department to support this new era of agro-pastoralism.
EDACR: Digital Access Meets Community Resilience
KICTANet, in partnership with the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, is rolling out the Enhanced Digital Access and Community Resilience (EDACR) project across ASAL counties, with Garissa as a key focus.
The six-month initiative, funded by the British High Commission in Nairobi, is designed to transform at least 200,000 lives by combining digital skills training, financial empowerment, and community-driven innovation.
In Garissa, the impact will be felt at multiple levels:
- 510 Community Digital Champions (CDCs) are being trained on intermediate skills and AI literacy, graduating into Community Digital Entrepreneurs (CDEs) who can drive local enterprise.
- 36 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) will be transformed into one-stop hubs for digital, financial, and agribusiness services.
- Youth will gain market-driven digital skills, opening doors to jobs in digital agriculture, IT services, the creative economy, and the gig economy.
Collaboration with Kuza Jamii II
To ensure synergy and avoid duplication, KICTANet also engaged with teams from Village Enterprise, who are implementing the Kuza Jamii II initiative in ASAL regions. Kuza Jamii II is a six-month bridging program led by a consortium of five partners — Village Enterprise, Generation for Change and Development (GENCAD), Smart Regional Consultants (SRC), Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), and CHASP Advisory.
The program supports the Government of Kenya’s transition toward full ownership and implementation of the national Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP) under KSEIP II. By aligning EDACR with Kuza Jamii II, both projects complement each other, strengthening digital inclusion while reinforcing economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
Digital Literacy for Everyday Life
Foundational digital literacy is at the core of EDACR’s promise. In Garissa, VSLAs and households will be trained under the ICT Authority curriculum, covering essentials like:
- Operating digital devices
- Making social connections online
- Doing business digitally
- Accessing government services
- Practicing cyber hygiene
- Managing e-waste responsibly
These skills may sound simple, but they are transformative. They mean farmers can check market prices on their phones, youth can apply for jobs online, and households can access government services without traveling long distances.
Upcoming KICTANet Engagements in Garissa
To deepen community collaboration in Garissa, the KICTANet team will host a series of high‑impact engagements that bring together farmers, youth, cooperatives, and county leadership.
On Sunday, 18 January, the team will host a Townhall with Community Digital Champions (CDCs) focusing on digital entrepreneurship and the role of local champions in driving grassroots innovation. Later that afternoon, attention will turn to the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), where leaders will explore how digital and financial tools can strengthen community resilience and open new opportunities for households.
The program continues on Monday, 19 January, beginning with a courtesy call to the County Government. This will be followed by roundtable discussions with the Department of Cooperatives and the Department of Youth and ICT, aligning policy priorities with digital inclusion goals. The day will conclude with a Townhall with Cooperatives and Community Leaders reinforcing grassroots ownership of Garissa’s digital transformation.
These engagements underscore KICTANet’s commitment to multi‑stakeholder collaboration, ensuring that every voice; farmers, youth, cooperatives, and government, is part of shaping Garissa’s journey from pastoralism to digital prosperity.
From Pastoralism to Digital Prosperity
Garissa’s story is no longer just about livestock. It’s about communities embracing technology, cooperatives becoming engines of growth, and youth stepping into digital futures.
The EDACR project is proving that when digital access meets community resilience, the result is more than connectivity.