“I am happy and proud that a tactical urbanism prototype is happening here in my country”
– Agnes Ruth Omollo
Nairobi has a variety of micro and medium enterprises seeking to succeed as urban farmers, especially in the Makadara Sub-County. There are a variety of challenges faced by urban farmers in the Makadara Sub-County inclusive to having a space to share their products and knowledge with fellow farmers and community members.
Creating a Space for the Promotion of Urban Agriculture
In partnership with the University of Nairobi and the University of the Fraser Valley, 25 Masters’ students learned how to facilitate tactical urbanism in the Makadara Sub-County. The goal of the project was to launch a pop-up space for urban farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to share their products for the purpose of knowledge-transfer, network-growth and selling.
Hosted at an older social hall covered in graffiti, the Jericho Social Hall in the Makadara Sub-County was brought to life by 20 different vendors, local dancers, students, and over 100 community members.
“The Makadara Food market was perfect for families looking to get groceries. It was also ideal for investors in the beauty market that may require Moringa, flax and other healthy products from scratch. Individuals looking to learn skills would have found a place since the farmers were willing to teach value addition skills such as peanut butter making, and rabbit rearing. The food market was also for a good hang-out for people looking for a good time; entertainment was top-notch and an overall family-friendly event, complete with a kids’ corner.” – Edith Kemunto
Women like Phyllis* were provided a space to share how she manually pasteurizes her milk, adding value by uniquely creating strawberry and vanilla yoghurt. This was in high demand at the Makadara Sub-County Market.
Providing a Vision for the Future
This event also hosted a variety of decision-makers, University professors, sub-county officials, and urban planners that recognized the importance of a public space for participation, knowledge-transfer and the sale of farmed products. Urban farmers and artisans in the Makadara Sub-County are deeply interwoven into the framework of the community, and this act of participation will help facilitate a blueprint moving forward for place-making through their eyes.
The Makadara #Growth market is here to demonstrate that Eastlands Nairobi can be food-safe! – Arthur Mwangi, Participant
*Not her real name
