WOMEN IN BEADWORK DONATE KSHS 4.6 MILLION TO AID IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Women in the beadworks sector in the four counties of Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit have issued a donation of over Kshs 4.6 Million, being 5% of their total annual earnings from the sale of their beadwork products, to aid in environmental conservation efforts across nine community conservancies.

According to the Beadworks production manager at the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) Salma Lekomet, at least 1,200 women from nine community conservancies across the four Counties are actively engaged in the beadworks industry, and receive their pay every Friday for the work done, and 5% of their earnings is channeled towards the kitty to aid in the running of their respective community wildlife conservancies.

In Laikipia County, Lekuruki, Naibung’a Lower, Naibung’a central and Ilngwesi community Conservancies will benefit from the fund. In Isiolo County, only Leparua Conservancy is part of the programme. In Marsabit County, Melako conservancy is also a beneficiary, while in Samburu County, Kalama, Sera and Westgate Community Conservancies are also part of the project, bringing the total number of benefitting conservancies to nine.

Marsabit County Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo and the C.E.O of Mashinani works Vishal Shah who were the chief guests during the ceremony to issue cheques and award the best performers. hailed the initiative as the best avenue for the economic empowerment of women in the four predominantly pastoralist counties, which often suffer from recurrent drought situations, leading to loss of livestock, which is their main source of livelihood.

They called upon the women to take responsibility and spearhead environmental conservation efforts in a bid to effectively reduce the adverse effects of climate change.

Pamela Murijo, a star beader from Ngarendare village, Ilngwesi Conservancy in Laikipia County said that the beadworks venture has been transformative to the lives of the 1,200 women who are part of it, enabling them to provide basic needs for their families, and in the process earn respect from their spouses and community members at large.

Maria Lekidaiyo, a star beader from Melako Community Conservancy in Marsabit County and her counterpart Joyce Lerukai from Kalama Community conservancy in Samburu County noted that unlike the livestock keeping practice that has many challenges ranging from cattle rustling to recurrent drought situations which render them poor whenever they happen, the beadworks sector supports their livelihood throughout the year, without the risk of any loss.

The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) Provides beads and training to the women who are engaged in the art and pays them every Friday for the amount of work done. The organization also seeks orders from the international market and gives them to the women beaders to work on them and deliver within stipulated timelines.

According to Murijo, the amount of money earned by the women weekly varies from person to person, depending on the piece of work delivered and the number of orders they receive. She noted that on a good season, the women earn up to Kshs 10,000 per person weekly.

The cheque issuance and awarding event was held at Kalama Community wildlife conservancy in Samburu County