People in Makueni County are defining their own change to overcome their everyday challenges, particularly a lack of economic opportunity for youth, which is also being worsened by climate change. Through the Kitise Rural Development's partnership with Firelight Foundation, local residents are coming up with adaptive solutions aimed at youth resilience and belonging. This approach, called community-driven systems change, is producing remarkable results in Syumile sub-location.

Joshua Mutisya graduated as a computer scientist in 2024, but he still had to work hard to find meaningful work in his rural community. As a student, he used to repair phones and laptops and provide basic printing services to get by and earn some savings during school holidays and weekends. Many of his peers, he said, spent their free time drinking or abusing drugs like khat (a mild stimulant). “I struggled to fit in and needed like-minded people to push me to be creative.”

When Joshua joined Syumile Elites, a youth group supported by Kitise Rural Development, he discovered a community of peers that saw potential where others saw limitation. The group introduced table banking (peer lending) where each member contributed 500 Kenyan shillings weekly to create a rotating loan fund with a manageable 10% interest. This locally designed financial system became the building blocks of Joshua’s transformation. He now owns and operates an internet business and cybercafé.

Another group member, Jacinta Mueni, used to walk from house to house to offer hairdressing services, sometimes trekking long distances that used up most of her time and energy. As a mother and wife, time away stretched her thin and still the irregular income barely covered her family’s needs. "Sometimes I would just walk back home because from the same money I needed to buy food, care for my family, and pay school fees," she says.

Through the same table banking system, Jacinta secured her first loan to buy a mobile hair-dressing kit. But real transformation came through Kitise's "financial boost kit" approach offering strategic investments that strengthen rather than replace community efforts. Jacinta acquired professional equipment, including a hair dryer and blow dryer. She was soon able to fully move from mobile services to renting space and finally to a fully equipped salon with electricity.

Zacharus Ntheka, who was also in the group, had spent years as an apprentice mechanic, working under trees with borrowed tools, known as jua kali (hot sun) in Kenya. Syumile Elites offered him a sense of belonging, purpose, and practical pathways. It was just what he needed. Through the community-designed support system, Zacharus received a tools boost kit to set up his own mechanic shop. Today, he serves the local community and mentors young people, passing on skills while building his own business.  

Fredrick Munyao's story is similar. A few years ago, he was an apprentice welder working for someone else. Then he received welding tools boost kit and support from KRD through the group's collective strength. He now owns a shop next to Zacharus's garage. Today the two group members work side by side, collaborating on local projects and demonstrating how individual success strengthens the community’s fabric.

A ripple effect

Syumile market center now thrives with businesses like Joshua's cybercafé, offering internet access in an underserved area and drawing young people to digital opportunities. ​Jacinta has employed another young woman in her salon, and the group's savings have grown to 40,000 Kenyan shillings (around US$300) to support new enterprises. What’s more, the initiative has unlocked access to government collaterals (to secure credit) and private bank financing for youth-led ventures, fuelling more income generation.

The ripple effects extend beyond these businesses. Other inspired young people are now collaborating and working together to address the root causes of drug abuse, early pregnancies and youth disengagement through local peer support as opposed to relying on external interventions.​ And this is the key; these were local solutions, supported by Firelight, solutions in which the young people were invested.

As Stanley Mambo, KRD's lead volunteer, says, “A changed mindset is a changed community.”

Understanding that economic empowerment and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand in their climate vulnerable region, the youth are now carrying out a reforestation project through seed-balling, a method that protects seeds from predation and adverse conditions.  

Syumile's success shows that strategic support that invests in building community capacity brings lasting change. It is change that capitalises on communities’ agency to create environments where youth do not just survive but realize their extraordinary potential.