Over 35 women from pastoral communities in Laikipia County have graduated after completing their beadwork training, which is aimed at equipping them with skills in the sector and improving production.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held in Nanyuki, they said the two-month intensive training would go a long way in ensuring they generate income and support their family’s livelihood.
The women, who were drawn from Illingwesi, Lekuruki, Naibung’a lower, and Naibung’a central, were supported by the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT), an organization aimed at supporting local communities in Kenya through peacebuilding and conservation of the natural environment.
Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) beads work production manager Beatrice Lempaira said that the women were further trained on leadership skills, which was a major boost to improving their communities.
“Our women have undergone leadership training in our beadwork project, and they have graduated; they were very happy. The training will go a long way in helping them in their communities to move forward,” said Ms. Lempaira.
She added that with the training, pastoral women had the know-how on current affairs, and at the same time, they could venture into different activities for the sake of their families and community geared towards social-economic development.
As a way of giving back to the community, Ms. Lempaira said that they channeled five per cent of their proceeds from the beadwork business to their community-owned conservancies to do projects of their choice, promote wildlife conservation, and at the same time support vulnerable children in accessing education.
“The women celebrated giving back a five per cent conservation fee from the total beadwork sales made in a year. That will be used to protect and conserve our wildlife. This is an annual event, and today, four conservancies gave out Sh. 2 million,” she said.
Lempaira said the Sh2 million was five per cent of their total earnings from beads and at the same time she called on other state and non-state players to join hands and support the women in finding a market for their beads, which was a challenge for them.
Esther Ng’irisho, one of the graduates, said that with the training she had acquired, she was hopeful to change her community together with other women who had undergone the training.
Mount Kenya Regional Director Aloyce Gonzaga Lekuton said that the training was a unique way of supporting the local women in acquiring the requisite knowledge on how to be changemakers in their communities.
“You just have to be a member of the community for you to get this opportunity to understand the leadership of your community and the conservancies. There is no other qualification, not even education,” revealed Lekuton, adding that the training was the first to be held in the Mt. Kenya region.
The director revealed that, the women had raked Sh.8 million in beadwork business this year, and contributing five per cent of their total earning was a great boost to their local communities; however, only women groups who had mastered the art of bead making and are referred to as “star beads” ,were allowed to contribute.
He noted that they have been able to help the women access international markets in the United Kingdom, Dubai, and the United States, which have good market rates, and at the same time eliminate middlemen who might take advantage of the beadwork industry.
The director called for partnerships between the government and other community-led organizations in a bid to support many vulnerable people.
This comes as the government sets the ball rolling on the formation of a state corporation that will protect and preserve beadwork made by Kenyans.
The move will further promote cultural heritage and ensure women acquire financial freedom through entrepreneurship.
The Ushanga initiative, which was launched in October 2021, is set to be transitioned to the State Corporation next month.
The products, including beadwork, wood carvings, and pottery, among other cultural products, will be protected through legal policies aimed at ensuring intellectual property is safeguarded and traders involved in the sector get value for their work.
By Muturi Mwangi
