The phrase “food security” often conjures images of policy documents gathering dust or grand pronouncements at international forums. But something palpably different recently took place in Nairobi. The Kenya National Food Systems Summit in April 2025 wasn’t just another talk shop; it felt like a national “enough is enough” moment – a determined pivot from well-meaning discussions to a concrete, multi-stakeholder commitment to overhaul how the nation feeds itself, and by extension, how it fuels its economy and future. This wasn’t about counting years anymore, as one official aptly put it, but about “counting impact.” And for a continent grappling with food insecurity, climate shocks, and the urgent need for inclusive growth, Kenya’s emerging blueprint is one we all need to watch, learn from, and champion.

For too long, the narrative around African food systems has been dominated by challenges. Kenya’s recent summit, however, chose to focus on a different narrative: one of tangible solutions, homegrown innovation, and unwavering resolve. Convened by the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development, this UNFSS+4 Stocktaking Moment brought over 700 diverse voices – from grassroots farmers and youth innovators to high-level policymakers and global development partners – around one table. Their collective task? To critically assess progress and forge an actionable path forward across five interconnected pathways: diversifying diets, building climate resilience, empowering youth and women, advancing digitalization, and, crucially, rethinking how we finance this entire transformation. The urgency was clear: with 63% of Kenyan children reportedly facing food poverty and food systems often “unraveling at storage, processing, and access,” the time for incremental change is over.

What emerged from the two-day intensive was not just a list of recommendations, but a series of powerful, interconnected declarations that signal a paradigm shift. Firstly, there’s an undeniable commitment to inclusive action. The resounding call, “Nothing about food systems without us,” from youth and women representatives, wasn’t just a slogan; it was a foundational principle woven into every discussion. From recognizing the untapped potential of arid Northern Kenya, as voiced by Wajir’s Maimuna, to showcasing Maryanne’s youth-empowering dairy venture in Nairobi, the summit underscored that those who till the land, process the food, and drive local markets must be at the helm of its transformation. This isn’t just about social equity; it’s smart economics. Empowering women and youth, who are already leading in areas like agroecology and digital innovation, unlocks a vast reservoir of talent and entrepreneurial energy.

Secondly, the summit highlighted a pragmatic embrace of innovation and digitalization as non-negotiable enablers. We heard about the “Chemist” platform digitally registering over 6.5 million farmers, AI-powered chatbots offering localized agricultural advice, and the push for digital financial identities to make smallholders “bankable.” This isn’t technology for technology’s sake. It’s about creating transparent, efficient systems that reduce food loss (a staggering 9 million tons annually in Kenya, almost 10% of GDP!), improve market access, and provide farmers with the data they need to make climate-smart decisions. As Dr. Muchelule Yusuf from the Ministry of Agriculture stated, “Digitalization without inclusion only deepens inequality.” The focus, therefore, is on tools that “reach the last mile.”

Finally, and perhaps most critically for a C-suite audience, there’s a maturing understanding of the financing imperative. The summit didn’t shy away from the tough questions: How do we move beyond donor dependency? How do we make finance accessible and affordable for smallholders and agri-SMEs? The discussions around the “three Fs” (Financial Flows to Food Systems) tool, which benchmarked Kenya’s current annual food system investment at $1.63 billion, and the call to harmonize lending rates and develop bespoke financial products, signal a serious intent to build a sustainable financial architecture. AGRA’s work on blended finance and Incofin’s support for nutrition-focused SMEs are practical examples of how public and private capital can converge to de-risk investment and nurture growth across the value chain. This isn’t just about funding agriculture; it’s about investing in national resilience and economic diversification.

Of course, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. As Hon. Joseph Oyugi of Homa Bay bluntly put it, Kenya (and indeed, much of Africa) often suffers from “implementation inertia.” Bureaucracy, fragmented coordination between national and county governments, and ensuring that policies translate into tangible benefits at the grassroots level remain significant hurdles. The concerns about counterfeit seeds, the aging farmer population, and the need for genuine county-level inclusion in national dialogues are real and must be addressed head-on.

Yet, the declarations and commitments that emerged from this summit offer a powerful antidote to cynicism. The detailed pathway declarations – from repurposing agricultural subsidies for agroecology to expanding school meal programs to reach 10 million children by 2030, and from institutionalizing the Kampala Declaration’s ambitious targets to ensuring every shilling flowing into food systems is tracked – are not vague aspirations. They are measurable, time-bound commitments.

The Kenya National Food Systems Summit has laid down a gauntlet. It has declared that a food-secure, prosperous, and resilient future is not only possible but is actively being built, from the ground up. For policymakers across Africa, the lesson is clear: embrace this kind of radical collaboration, empower your innovators, and get serious about implementation. For business leaders, the message is equally compelling: the transformation of Africa’s food systems is one of the largest investment and innovation opportunities of our time. Kenya is serving up a bold recipe; it’s time for the rest of us to not only take note but to bring our own ingredients to the table. The future of our continent depends on it.