Edible insects are increasingly being considered as sustainable alternatives to fish and soybean meals in animal feed because of their high nutritional quality and environmental benefits. However, successful introduction of a new product to the market depends on the target user’s acceptance. Thus, evaluating the potential demand of insect-based feeds would provide relevant information for policy development. The present study assessed farmers’ knowledge on edible insects as feed, their acceptance of integrating insect meals in animal feeds and willingness to pay (WTP) for insect-based feed (IBF) using a contingent valuation method. A household survey was conducted among 957 randomly selected farmers including: 409 poultry, 241 fish and 307 pig farmers in four counties in Kenya. Results of the study reveal that over 70 and 80% of poultry and fish farmers, respectively, are aware that insects can be used as a feed ingredient. In addition, over 60 and 75% of poultry and fish farmers, respectively, consider insects as a good component of feed. Poultry, pig and fish farmers interviewed accepted and showed willingness to pay for IBF. Regression analysis indicated that age, gender, education, marital status, distance to feed trader, awareness of insects as feed, attitude towards insects, acceptance of insect species, availability of agricultural inputs, use of commercial feeds, availability of training and market information had a significant influence on the WTP for IBF. Therefore, increased extension services to educate famers on the nutritional benefits of insect meals in animal feeds and existing market opportunities are expected to improve farmers’ attitude towards utilization and consequently enhance WTP for IBF, which in return would significantly reduce the existing pressure on conventional fishmeal feed resources. Our findings provide the first insights into the market opportunities of including insect meals in the animal feed value chain in Kenya.

Purpose: This study evaluated a programme, CAP Youth Empowerment Institute (CAPYEI) that uses Basic Employability Skills Training (BEST) model to contribute the evidence and generate lessons on the type of skills needed to enhance women economic empowerment. The purpose of the study is to generate evidence of what works in women skill acquisition and employability in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a mixed research design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to conduct an impact evaluation of the CAP YEI training programme on the employability and entrepreneurship of women and girls in Kenya. The design allows for the consideration of two groups: treatment and control groups thus allowing for a clear comparison of outcomes between those who received the training (treatment group) and those who did not (control group). Project evaluation data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Given that the study was conducted post evaluation, it did not have baseline survey data, therefore an ex post baseline evaluation using a retrospective approach was computed. In the absence of a true baseline, the questionnaire was tailored to allow beneficiary recall. A key design consideration of impact evaluation study was the identification of a valid control group that could generate a suitable counterfactual outcome. Findings: The results indicate positive self-evaluation on most of the selected soft skills. For instance, over 80% of both the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries indicated that they possessed communication, teamwork, interpersonal, decision-making, prioritization, assertiveness and negotiation skills, whereas 58 % and 63 % of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, respectively, indicating that they possessed information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Results indicate that skills development improves chances of employment among the target group and especially women. The results indicate that addressing gender inequality requires targeted interventions. The targeted interventions could be aimed at ensuring that women and girls are empowered to compete favourable with men and boys in the labour market. Research limitations/implications: This study was an evaluative study of the impact of an intervention in a single case study. This means while the findings of the study are relevant to policy and practice, they cannot be generalized to a broader populace. The absence of base-line data rendered the use of comparative data impossible. Data generated through self-reported assessment of intervention impacts are prone to responder biases, which may raise questions about the validity of the findings. Practical implications: This study recommends integration of transferable skills training in teaching and training institutions to enhance competitiveness, employability and entrepreneurship chances of the graduates in the labour market. The study is significant in informing policy direction in Kenya. Originality/value: This study evaluated a model of integrating transferable skills into a young women training programme and evaluated its impacts with a view of documenting what works for women employability. This case is a unique one in the country specific context.

The evolving labor environment underscores the critical role of cognitive and non-cognitive (soft) skills in fostering workforce adaptability and enhancing labor market outcomes. This study investigates the combined influence of these skills on the probability of employment, focusing on the Kenyan labor market, where high youth unemployment and job market mismatches persist despite government interventions and education sector reforms. Traditionally, emphasis has been placed on cognitive skills, with limited integration of non-cognitive skills into educational curricula, exacerbating the disconnect between youth competencies and market demands. Using binary logistic regression, this study evaluates factors influencing youth employment, highlighting the complementarity of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Findings reveal that individuals possessing a blend of these skills have higher employment prospects, with notable improvements for young women possessing agreeableness and digital literacy. Additionally, factors such as marital status and higher education levels positively influence employability. These results underscore the equal importance of personality traits and cognitive abilities in labor market success. Policymakers are urged to prioritize curriculum reforms that integrate non-cognitive skill development and encourage employers to include assessments of these skills in hiring practices to address persistent labor market mismatches.

This paper uses a translog cost function approach to study the farm-level demand for poultry feed in Kenya. The study estimates the demand elasticities of the three common types of poultry feed; mixed feed, grain, and leafy vegetables. The estimated model was used to obtain estimates of Marshallian demand elasticities for poultry feed in Kenya for male-headed and female-headed households. The elasticities reported can be used by researchers and policy analysts to evaluate policy effects of changes in feed demand quantities within the livestock economy in Kenya. Moreover, these parameters can provide more reliable estimates of the total change in feed demand than relying on subjective measures of elasticities. Furthermore, the results of this study are essential in enhancing gender equitable policy formulation. Our findings show that own price elasticities of demand for all the feed types are negative and less than unit in absolute value for the sample of farmers surveyed, indicating that the feed types are relatively inelastic. The cross-price elasticities indicate that vegetables and grain are compliments while the rest of the poultry feed types are substitutes. The results also show that there are substantial gender differences in feed demand and elasticities of feed demand with respect to feed prices.

This study investigates how socio-economic characteristics, migration status, and country of origin influence labor market outcomes in Nairobi County, Kenya. By estimating logit and Tobit models using data from the Kenya Refugee and Host Household Survey (KRHHS), we find that age is positively associated with the likelihood of being employed and higher incomes, but this relationship diminishes beyond a certain point. Gender disparities are pronounced, with women being less likely to be employed and generally earning less than men. Larger households are associated with lower employment probabilities, reflecting greater domestic responsibilities for household heads. Local community members are more likely to be employed and earn more than refugees, who face substantial labor market barriers such as legal restrictions and lack of social networks. Having a university education is associated with being employed with higher earnings, compared to workers with either primary or secondary education. Having never been married is positively associated with being employed. Employment and income vary significantly by country of origin, highlighting the complex interplay between integration and discrimination factors in local communities. These findings underscore the need to address educational and gender inequalities that prevail between refugees and local communities.

For young adults living with HIV and key populations, digital platforms are essential tools for accessing health information, services, and navigating stigmatized health needs. However, these technologies expose them to digital harms such as technology-facilitated abuse (TFA). Research on TFA has largely focussed on gender-based violence with limited exploration of experiences of criminalised and stigmatised populations. This paper reports findings from Kenya as part of the Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP), a four-country study conducted in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam. The study examined how young adults living with HIV and key populations experience TFA. Data were collected in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kitui, and Migori counties through 16 focus group discussions with 109 young adults aged 18–30 years, including people living with HIV, female sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, and transgender participants, alongside eight in‑depth interviews and six key informant interviews with policymakers, health professionals, and civil society leaders. Data were thematically analysed. TFA included cyberbullying, hacking, blackmail, impersonation, malicious reporting of accounts, and non‑consensual sharing of images or private information. Perpetrators included family members, partners, friends, and strangers, often linked to participants’ HIV status, sexuality, or online visibility. TFA caused significant emotional, social, and behavioural harms. Participants emphasized the need for digital literacy, stronger data protection, and a responsive criminal justice system. Based on these findings, we propose an expanded intersectional definition of TFA that extends beyond gendered framing to explicitly recognise HIV status, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression as axes of vulnerability. Our findings highlight the urgent need for rights-based digital governance that moves the burden of protection from individuals to systems, including through decriminalisation, to protect digital rights and wellbeing of young adults living with HIV and key populations in Kenya.