Nakuru Living Lab, under the Refooture II Project at Egerton University, convened a Co-Creation Workshop that brought together innovators, community members, mentors, and facilitators to collaboratively explore community-led and regenerative innovation pathways in Menengai.
The workshop began with a welcome and purpose-setting session, establishing a shared understanding of the day’s objectives and creating an open, inclusive environment for collaboration. Participants were introduced and expectations clarified, emphasizing the goal of generating innovation ideas grounded in lived community realities.
A key highlight of the morning was the presentation of the Menengai Community Vision and Journey Maps by the Refooture team and community representatives. These vision journeys illustrated community aspirations across multiple pathways, including food systems, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing. Cross-cutting issues such as youth inclusion, gender equity, climate resilience, nutrition, and social justice were emphasized throughout the discussions.
Participants then engaged in story circle sessions, working in diverse, mixed groups that ensured representation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Through guided storytelling, community members shared daily challenges and ongoing efforts to improve their lives, while innovators listened actively to better understand local contexts and priorities. These conversations enabled groups to identify and rank key challenges and opportunities affecting the community.
Building on these insights, groups applied Iceberg Mapping and Food Journey Mapping tools to unpack underlying patterns, structures, and beliefs influencing the identified challenges. This systems-based approach helped participants move beyond surface-level problems to uncover root causes and high-impact leverage points aligned with Regenerative and Inclusive Food Systems (RIFS) principles.
The sessions concluded with the formulation of “How Might We” innovation questions, designed to stimulate creative, inclusive, and nature-positive thinking. These questions laid a strong foundation for developing solutions that are community-driven, resilient, and socially inclusive.
The Co-Creation Workshop reaffirmed Nakuru Living Lab’s commitment to participatory innovation, ensuring that community voices remain central in shaping sustainable and inclusive development pathways.