Canada-Based Kenyan Tech Expert Explains How Government Can Create 21 Million Jobs Annually
- A tech expert outlined how agriculture could generate millions of sustainable jobs annually through strategic planning and food production models
- Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, he disclosed that he based his calculations on nutritional needs, which revealed a massive opportunity to transform food supply into long-term employment
- He explained why Kenya needs to build on existing farming strengths rather than importing foreign agricultural strategies
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
A Canada-based Kenyan tech expert has developed a bold agricultural model that he believes could help the Kenyan government create over 21 million jobs every year, simply by solving the country’s food crisis.
Source: Twitter
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, Robert Gichuru said the key to long-term, sustainable employment lies not in infrastructure or complex economic theories, but in food production.
He argued that, unlike construction projects, which offer short-term jobs, food production is a continuous process that can regenerate employment year after year.
"This vision doesn’t just address hunger; it propels economic growth and stability. By investing in food production, we’re not just planting seeds for crops; we’re planting seeds for a flourishing economy," he said.
At the heart of his proposal is a technology-driven system that helps set measurable food production targets, making feeding families and even the entire country a predictable part of economic planning.
How will Kenya create 21 million jobs annually?
The API integration specialist and platform expert based his calculations on nutritional needs, daily food intake data, and Kenya’s projected population of 58 million by 2030.
Factoring in a 12% buffer, Gichuru said he used 65 million as the benchmark.
According to his analysis, Kenya will require approximately:
- 24 million tonnes of milk
- 12.5 million tonnes of maize
- 9 million tonnes of beef
- 107 million tonnes of sukuma wiki (kale)
That adds up to a total food requirement of 152.5 million tonnes each year.
Source: Original
Using maize as a reference point, Gichuru estimated that producing one tonne of maize requires 35 man-days — that is, 35 days of labour by one person. Applying this rate across all food types, the total labour needed would be:
152.5 million tonnes multiplied by 35 man-days, which translates to 5.34 billion man-days
To convert this into full-time jobs, Gichuru used 251 working days in a year (excluding weekends and public holidays)
That means 5,337,500,000 man-days divided by 251 working days, translating to 21,260,956 full-time jobs, a figure he believes a figure he says is realistic with the right strategy.
To estimate food demand, the tech guru used Canada’s food guide to determine daily nutritional requirements, then calculated annual needs per person across core food groups.
These were multiplied by the adjusted population target and converted into tonnes.
However, the expert, who holds a master's degree in telecommunication engineering from Toronto University, admitted his model does not yet factor in variables like land availability, climate change, and farming practices.
Instead, it focuses on defining the size of the opportunity: how much food is needed and how many jobs could be created to produce it.
Can land availability and climate change affect this technology?
He emphasised that land use and climate factors vary by region and can be managed through innovations such as climate-resilient crops, better seed varieties, and irrigation.
Rather than importing foreign agricultural strategies, Gichuru advocates for strengthening what already works in Kenya — matching crops to the country’s seven agroecological zones and promoting inter-county specialisation.
He believes policy support, community involvement, and strategic partnerships are the key to scaling this model.
"Just like M-Pesa thrived because it fit Kenya’s context," Gichuru said, "a home-grown, food-centred economic model can transform the country not just by feeding people, but by restoring dignity, creating stability, and powering job creation at scale."
Has Robert Gichuru launched any apps before?
Gichuru began developing farming technology back in 2011 and launched a pilot in Kinangop in 2014.
While the project faced challenges, mainly due to limited internet access and a lack of consistent data entry by farmers, it offered key insights.
He pivoted to a 'data steward' model, where a local youth equipped with a device and app (Sfaida) would visit farms, collect data offline, and provide updates to farmers for a small fee.
Source: Original
This approach not only increased accessibility but also gave farmers visible value for their engagement.
With today’s improved smartphone access and connectivity, Gichuru believes the model can now be scaled effectively — led by communities, and refined for local contexts.
Is government planning to import rice?
In other news, President William Ruto’s administration approved the importation of rice in response to a growing market shortage.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) cautioned that failure to meet the import targets could trigger a spike in the cost of rice and other staple foods due to limited supply.
However, the move drew criticism from leaders who accused the government of using duty-free imports to misappropriate public funds.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
