In the harsh, sun-scorched landscapes of Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya, hope is often a rare and fragile thing. Yet among the endless rows of white shelters, a quiet revolution is taking root. A revolution not of politics or protest, but of soil, seeds, and the unstoppable human spirit.
This is the story of the AgriHope Initiative Foundation Kakuma, a refugee-led movement determined to transform life in the camp—not through charity, but through farming, self-reliance, and dignity.
Mtokani Saleh Hamisi, a 27-year-old Congolese refugee, has spent more than half his life in Kakuma. He arrived as a child in 2010, full of dreams of education and a better future. But like many refugees, he quickly found his ambitions blocked by systemic barriers.
“I prayed for a good grade to continue to university,” Mtokani recalls. “But when I finished school, my grade was too low. I felt like we had been forgotten.”
In Kakuma’s overcrowded classrooms, where one teacher often handles 70 students—the chances for academic success are slim. Despite this, 90% of Kakuma’s youth complete secondary education. But what comes next? With no jobs, no higher education opportunities, and a dwindling supply of food aid, most young people are left facing a future with no doors open.
But Mtokani decided not to wait for the doors to open. He decided to build them.
Seeing the untapped potential of the land around him, Mtokani gathered 15 fellow refugees and launched the AgriHope Initiative, a project based on the principles of permaculture—sustainable, low-resource farming perfectly suited to Kakuma’s arid environment.
“We realized we have enough land,” he says. “Even if we can’t access higher education, we can grow food and start our lives. Farming gives us skills and helps us survive.”
With just a few dollars pooled together and a small plot of land offered by a generous local resident, AgriHope began planting spinach,Kale and other African vegetables. These crops now provide much-needed nourishment to participating families and offer a chance to generate a small income by selling surplus produce.
But this is about more than food. It’s about reclaiming agency in a place where people are often reduced to statistics. Every seed planted is an act of defiance against hunger. Every harvest is a step toward dignity.
The situation in Kakuma is becoming more dire. With food and healthcare programs being withdrawn, refugees face the looming threat of starvation.
“Imagine how it will be in June and July when no food support will be given,” Mtokani warns. “But our project can help sustain refugees. If they grow their own crops, they can feed their families.”
AgriHope’s vision is clear: transform dependency into empowerment, despair into action. But to grow, they need support.
With a modest budget, AgriHope can scale its operations and reach hundreds more refugees. Their immediate needs include:
Beyond funding, they are looking for partners, trainers, and ambassadors to help them share their story and build a more resilient future.
At Agritecture, we believe that growing food is an act of hope, resilience, and justice. The AgriHope Initiative isn’t just cultivating crops; it’s cultivating futures.
To support Mtokani and AgriHope Initiative Foundation Kakuma you can reach out at:
mtokanisaleh@gmail.com
Together, we can replace waiting with working. Hunger with harvest. Despair with hope.
Let’s plant the seeds of a better future—right where they’re needed most.