At 31, John Maina knows the struggle of chasing white-collar jobs all too well.
Growing up in Gatura, Gatanga subcounty, in Murang’a county, he saw opportunities for youth in agriculture often dismissed.
Today, his four-acre farm is not just a source of income—it’s a story of patience, innovation and community impact.
“I realised agriculture pays, sometimes more than the office jobs everyone wants. Young people just need to be patient,” Maina says.
After leaving school in Standard 8 due to lack of funds, he turned to farming—a path few young people in the county pursue.
The steep terrain, seasonal water shortages and shared family land were all hurdles.
Yet, with usufruct rights, he farmed alongside his father and brother without formal land division, proving families can collaborate productively.
With crops like lettuce, cabbage and bell peppers, Maina’s farm thrives.
In 2019, he and his brother built two 100,000-litre water pans, terraced the land and planted napier grass to prevent erosion.
Support from the Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund (UTNWF) provided technical expertise and materials, boosting productivity and conserving the Chania River watershed.
Now, Maina’s dairy cows generate Sh50,000 monthly, and savings from farm productivity have enabled him to build a modern house and educate his children.
His farm also serves as a model: he has trained at least 50 youths and inspired 20 others to embrace horticulture.
Murang’a county extension assistant Caroline Wangari says the interventions protect rivers and wetlands while improving water quality for Nairobi.
“No farmer is left behind and the results are visible—reduced turbidity, better soil and healthy rivers,” she notes.
Thanks to the UTNWF, more than 260,000 farmers benefit from conservation initiatives, establishing 17,000 rainwater harvesting structures, managing 470,000 acres and safeguarding 980km of rivers, reducing water treatment costs by $1.2 million (Sh154 million).
For Maina, farming is more than a livelihood; it is a blueprint for sustainable rural development, proving that with patience, innovation, and support, agriculture can empower youth, protect the environment and transform communities.
