Staff from Egerton University and West Virginia University (WVU) visited two primary schools in Njoro Sub-county on 15 May as part of an ongoing collaboration to promote agricultural learning through 4K Clubs.
The visit to Ndege Primary School and Njoro DEB Comprehensive School was organized by the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension at the Faculty of Education and Community Studies. The 4K Clubs — short for Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya — aim to build agricultural skills and environmental awareness among primary school pupils through hands-on learning.
Representing Egerton were Dr Shadrack Cheplogoi, Prof. Agnes Nkurumwah, Dr Mary Waiganjo, Prof. Justus Ombati, Dr Viola Kirui, Dr Stephen Maina, Mr Simon Mutonga and Dorcas Bundi, a PhD student in the department.
The 4K programme currently involves ten schools in the sub-county. Each school is assigned a lecturer from Egerton as a mentor, supported by a teacher patron and student coaches from the Agricultural Education and Extension Student Association (AEESA). Egerton also conducts training for teachers and headteachers who serve as club patrons.
Teachers at Ndege Primary School explain one of the garden plots to visiting staff from Egerton University and West Virginia University.
The WVU delegation was led by Ms. Jennifer Ours Williams, Associate Dean and Associate Director of WVU Extension. She was accompanied by Ms. Sue Day-Perroots, a retired WVU staff member currently serving as a consultant, and Ms. Ann Bailey-Berry, Associate Vice President for Land Grant and Community Outreach.
“I commend the department’s efforts,” said Ms. Williams. “The idea of starting agricultural education early, through practical involvement, is a strong foundation for long-term impact.”
At both schools, pupils showcased vegetable plots they manage as part of club activities. At Njoro DEB Comprehensive, the club has also integrated agroforestry by planting tree seedlings alongside vegetables.
While the programme has been well received, challenges remain. “One of the issues is what happens after planting — especially during school holidays,” noted Dr Waiganjo. “When the pupils are away, there’s no one to tend the crops.”
She also noted the need to improve monitoring and documentation of outcomes. “There’s been no formal assessment to capture the programme’s effectiveness with actual data. That’s something we need to build into the next phase.”
Currently, 4K Club participation is limited to Grades 4–6. Egerton staff are working on a proposal to extend involvement up to age 35 to allow for continued participation and sustainability of the initiative.
The programme also receives support from the County Government of Nakuru, particularly through its Department of Education.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a growing partnership between Egerton University and WVU, which began in December 2023 and was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. The collaboration focuses on agricultural education, extension, and community outreach.
“We’re also looking at expanding the collaboration and exploring more partnership opportunities,” added Ms. Williams.
