17 groups in Isiolo’s rural wards get Sh3.2 million in business grants

Seventeen women and youth groups in Isiolo's six rural wards have benefited from Sh3.2 million in business grants under an ongoing Sh128 million climate change project.

The project seeks to promote the resilience of local communities and build the capacity of local institutions and community organisations to tackle climate change impacts.

The groups, 11 of which are women's, are involved in activities including crop and fodder farming, livestock business, beekeeping, beadwork and poultry keeping. They are from Kinna, Oldonyiro, Chari, Cherab, Sericho and Garbatulla wards, which were among the worst hit by the recent drought.

The groups received grants of between Sh100,000 and Sh300,000 for the third time in a row since the inception of the project in 2021. Some Sh4.1 million was disbursed to the groups in the last two years.

They are the Biftu Chari Women's Group, Womdibi, Bada, Napuku Esere, Naserian, Niashamunye Girls, Dhase Cultural Women Self-Help Group, Insene Farmers, Tuut Kinisa, Tulla Women, Modogashe Bodaboda Welfare, Sericho Muslim Daawa, Darara, Gummi Youth, Rapsu Neema, Halcha Lactating Mothers, and Kulamawe Kinisa Beekeepers.

The three-year "Strengthening Communities Resilience (SCORE)" project is funded by the German government in partnership with Sign of Hope and is being implemented by the Merti Integrated Development Programme (MID-P).

It seeks to promote agriculture and livestock farming for over 1,000 pastoralists and 300 agro-pastoralists in the county.

Biftu Chari, Naishamunye and Dhase Cultural women's self-help groups display their products during the issuance of Sh3.2 million in business grants to 17 groups in Isiolo town on March 19, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

Amina Golicha of Garbatulla's Dhase Cultural Women Self-Help Group, which received a Sh300,000 grant, said the funding will enable them to expand their goat business and promote their agricultural activities.

"There are 16 women and four youths in our group. The past two grants enabled us to start cowpea farming and a livestock sale business, which helped us to fend for our families and pay school fees for our children," she said.

Tuut Kinisa, a fodder group from Kinna ward with a membership of 13 women and two men, received a Sh150,000 grant, which they intend to use to expand their farming area to produce more hay for increased income.

"We are considering buying herds of cattle and fattening them in readiness for the operationalisation of the Isiolo export abattoir. We are also keen on leveraging the feedlot that Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said will be established along the Isiolo-Meru border," Hassan Bagaja, a member of the group, said.

The previous support of Sh250,000 enabled them to purchase grass-harvesting machines, easing the burden they endured using machetes to cut the grass and fencing off the farm. They also bought modern beehives and are now cashing in on the venture, selling a kilogramme of honey for Sh700.

"We were taken on a learning tour in Kajiado before receiving the first grant in 2021. We were taught how to produce fodder with little water. We started with four acres and harvested 615 bales, which Caritas bought from us and distributed to herders in Kulamawe, Garbatulla and Boji," he recalled.

During the issuance of the checks in Isiolo town, MID-P Executive Director Molu Tepo asked the beneficiaries to prudently use the funds to economically empower themselves, warning that those who fail to account for them will be disqualified from subsequent disbursements.

"We dropped one of the groups due to poor performance. We will not hesitate to crack the whip on mismanagement of funds," said Tepo, who was accompanied by Programme Officer Yusuf Dima.

To support monitoring, all the groups are required to submit monthly financial reports to the organisation.

Isiolo's Trade and Tourism Executive, Lawrence Mwongela, said the county was keen on supporting women, the youth and persons with disabilities to start and grow existing businesses for improved livelihoods.

"We are working towards ensuring the Trade and Market Bill (currently in the county assembly) is expedited to enable us to come up with a regulation that will see our people benefit from the Biashara Fund," Mwongela said.

He was accompanied by Donor Coordination Chief Officer Adan Hassan Tupi and his Public Participation counterpart, Judith Karendi.

"The project will supplement the work of the county government. We appeal for more partners to ensure improved livelihoods for our people," Hassan said, singling out Iresaboru as the worst-hit by floods and therefore an area in need of assistance.

"Also consider expanding subsequent programmes in the remaining four wards of Burat, Wabera, Bulapesa and Ngaremara."