Ten conservancies have awarded education bursaries to over 32,000 students from four Northern Kenyan counties.
The Northern Rangeland trust Chief Executive officer Mr. Tom Paul Lalampa said that 65 percent of local people in four counties incurred enormous loss from livestock rearing after drought ravaged their animals last year owing to drought hence the need for support of bright students from poor families in the region.
Speaking at Kambi Garba Catholic mission while presiding over a graduation ceremony of 300 ‘Jua kali’ artisans from Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu and Laikipia courtesy of ‘Ufugaji bora Mashinani’ programme, Mr. Lalampa said that the herders got trained on how to improve local herds with foreign breeds with view to boost production.
He added that since the start of the program three years ago the livelihood of the pastoralist communities had changed with application of the modern technologies. The programme has effectively reduced conflicts among local herdsmen, with youth planning events to combat cattle rustling and banditry along highways.
Mr. Lalampa said that the new technologies have created 1,400 jobs and local residents have incomes from various economic activities and also reduced incidents of school dropout and early marriages.
The NRT CEO said that the organization had spent over Sh.800 million in supporting business opportunities for women and youth groups through funding them and educating them on proper management of their trades.
NRT chairman Dr. Kevit Desai said that some 6,000 people had been trained in the business trends with an objective to reduce dependency rate by 30 percent and increase income at household level.
Dr. Desai, former Principal Secretary, stated that the government implemented Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs to equip youth with technical skills for national development. Hence, The 300 TVET graduates will enhance their living standards by earning income from mobile phone repair, motorbike repair, and livestock treatment.
By Abduba Mamo
