Tujiamini Wraps Up: Bernard Musyoki Wins National Gold for Climate-Smart Farming Innovation

Machakos Kenya

Key Highlights

Tujiamini wraps up its nationwide tour with Bernard Musyoki from Mwala, Machakos County, emerging as the National Gold Winner for an agricultural innovation helping smallholder farmers cope with erratic rainfall in arid and semi-arid areas. Awarded KES 1 million, Musyoki’s early seedling propagation project allows farmers to plant ahead of the rains, cut crop maturity time, and reduce the risk of total crop failure. The programme also recognised three Silver Winners across creative arts, youth enterprise, and inclusive sports, underscoring Tujiamini 2.0’s focus on community-led solutions that address food security, employment, and social inclusion across Kenya.

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Tujiamini 2.0 has concluded its national journey with Bernard Musyoki from Mwala, Machakos County, named the National Gold Winner for a grassroots agricultural project designed to help smallholder farmers adapt to unpredictable rainfall patterns. Musyoki received KES 1 million to scale an initiative that focuses on early seedling propagation, a method that enables farmers to transplant crops immediately at the onset of rains.

The innovation allows farmers to stay 30 to 45 days ahead of the planting season, significantly reducing crop maturity time and improving yields. By shortening the growing cycle, the approach lowers the risk of total crop failure, a persistent challenge in arid and semi-arid lands where rainfall is increasingly unreliable. The project currently supports maize, cereal, and vegetable farmers while creating employment opportunities for youth and women in the local community.

Speaking after receiving the award, Musyoki described the funding as a turning point for both his work and the farmers who depend on it. He noted that timing is critical for farmers in ASAL regions and that expanding seedling production would allow more households to protect their livelihoods from climate shocks. He said the recognition affirmed the value of solutions developed within communities that understand local challenges firsthand.

In addition to the National Gold award, Tujiamini 2.0 recognised three Silver Winners for their community impact. Mordecai Otieno, a Nairobi-based music producer and instrumentalist, was acknowledged for supporting emerging artists through production and mentorship. Kapten Branham Wasike was recognised on behalf of a youth group in Bungoma that has established sustainable enterprises ranging from poultry farming to mobile money services, with plans for a community cyber café. Mary Chepkoi was also honoured for her work with a deaf basketball programme in Kiambu County, which is creating inclusive pathways for deaf athletes to train, compete, and gain national exposure.

SportPesa representative Japheth Akhulia said the winners reflected the core purpose of Tujiamini, which was created to support individuals addressing real problems within their communities. He noted that the projects span food security, youth employment, creative industries, and inclusion through sport, demonstrating the breadth of impact possible when local ideas receive structured support.

Since its launch, Tujiamini 2.0 has toured counties across Kenya, including Central, Western, North Rift, North Eastern, Eastern, Coast, Nairobi, Nyanza, and South Rift regions. The programme has supported more than 488 beneficiaries and 15 grassroots football teams, unlocking over KES 30 million in funding through Gold, Silver, and Bronze Community Awards.

As Tujiamini wraps up its national rollout, the initiative highlights the role of community-driven solutions in addressing complex social and economic challenges. By investing in locally grounded ideas, the programme underscores a broader shift toward empowering communities to design and lead their own paths to sustainable development.

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