Three Hundred and fifty-five Kilometers North of Nairobi lies Samburu county. The Home of unique wildlife, conservation, and picturesque landscape. The Heart of Kenya and the gateway to the marginal North.
The hilly range land county played host to the second training of the EU Kenya Ranger Program and would be home to fifty-two entrepreneurs from Laikipia, Baringo, Isiolo, and Samburu Counties for four days.
The Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem Services Productivity (RangER) Programme, funded by the European Union (EU), has garnered backing from four County Governments under the Amaya Triangle Initiative (ATI).
A welcome by the Director of Trade and Investments Samburu County, Leshomo Komitu paved way for the action-packed 3-day training sessions in Maralal Samburu. All systems indicated it was gloves-off for the E4impact team, farmers, cooperative representatives, and entrepreneurs.
This innovative effort aims to reduce poverty in the Amaya Triangle counties of Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo, and Baringo by increasing the productivity of ecosystem services offered by rangelands for food-feed-human-and-wildlife security.
In a rigorous and detailed three-day training, the champion entrepreneurs, cooperative representatives, and farmers from rangeland areas were trained in Marketing and digital strategy. Chebet Cheruiyot, project coordinator at E4impact took the representatives from different communities through an in-depth and well-detailed training session that saw them interact and exchange ideas which is a rare occurrence.
The training played a pivotal role in enhancing value chains for pasture and feed, identifying viable commercial opportunities for natural resource-based enterprises, and working with communities to introduce various agroforestry and afforestation/reforestation options for feed and food security.
Cheruiyot has acknowledged the increase in the number of women participating in the initiative. In comparison to 2022, women have registered an impressive rise with seventeen more women joining the initial six.
The program seeks to put women on an equal weighing scale when it comes to fostering a peaceful environment that is conducive to perfect economic activities. This was evident in the way they put across their presentations and real-life experiences as the training sessions went on. Their aggressive nature in business was evident as they brought their products for display.
From the beautiful variety of beads to the dark golden viscous honey from Baringo County.
Milkha Lolkurum, CEO of Community Safety Initiative – Kenya (CSI) also took time to sensitize the representatives on the importance of peace in the Amaya counties and how well the select individuals can go back to their homes and act as the tools of conflict resolution.
The Director of Trade and investments acknowledged the EU Ranger program appreciating the gains it has made and the impact it has had on entrepreneurs in the County. We meet next in Isiolo and hope to impact more entrepreneurs and cooperatives.
By Gideon Gachoki,
Management Trainee, Communication & Marketing
E4Impact Entrepreneurship Center
