We are thrilled and deeply honoured to share that our Ujuzi Manyattani initiative, now formally established as Ujuzi Manyattani Training Institute (UMTI), has been accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA). UMTI formally joins the ranks of recognised technical and vocational colleges nationwide.
This achievement is the culmination of 7 years of relentless dedication towards providing quality vocational training. Ujuzi Manyattani began as a flagship mobile vocational training program under MashinaniWORKS, with the mission to break down geographical, financial, and social barriers for women and youth locked out of formal education.
With this accreditation, UMTI now possesses the full autonomy, legal mandate, and institutional authority to design, pilot, and anchor its own quality-assurance frameworks, thereby transforming Ujuzi Manyattani into a pillar of national development. This also means that Ujuzi Manyattani will no longer be confined to the conservancies; rather, the training will be taken to other parts of the country.
“Through this unique training model, we will continue offering our market-responsive, hands-on courses and explore technology-based training options to maintain our training strategy and meet the needs of Kenyan women and youth,” says Mr Ture Boru, MashinaniWORKS Chief Economic Programs Officer.
Our MashinaniWORKS Board Chairperson, Dr Kevit Desai, PhD, MBS, CBS, FIET, added, “UMTI’s accreditation marks a transformative milestone for vocational education and skills development in Kenya. It reflects a bold and innovative approach to empowering youth and women through accessible, market-responsive training. Having championed TVET transformation and competency-based education nationally, I strongly believe institutions such as Ujuzi Manyattani Training Institute are critical in shaping the future workforce and advancing inclusive economic growth.”
To date, Ujuzi Manyattani has skilled 1,713 alumni, who have injected over Ksh. 180 million annually into the local economy, an income that did not exist before the programme’s introduction. With this official stamp of approval, the future looks even brighter as we prepare to reach thousands more, scaling up sustainable livelihoods and economic transformation.
We owe this monumental leap to our incredible partners, most especially the Livelihood Impact Fund (LIF) for their generous support in funding the accreditation process, the partnering TVET institutions, and the resilient communities across Northern and Coastal Kenya who trusted our vision from the very start.
Ujuzi Manyattani will always strive to invest in innovative approaches to reach vulnerable and disadvantaged youth wherever they are.
Pelina Kinyaga’s journey with BeadWORKS Kenya begins at a moment when the program itself was still taking shape. When BeadWORKS was introduced in Lekiji Village within the Leparua Conservancy, she was among the first women artisans who chose to participate. Initially, her involvement was cautious: she watched and learned, curious whether this emerging enterprise could really challenge the rhythms of their community’s economy, defined by livestock and seasonal uncertainty.
Beading, however, was already part of her life. As a Maasai woman, Pelina had acquired the skill informally, passed down from one generation of women to the next, and practised within the rhythms of community life. She produced necklaces, ceremonial headpieces, and bangles for morans (Maasai warriors), items valued for their cultural significance rather than their commercial potential. What BeadWORKS introduced was not the craft itself, but a reframing of it. Through clear systems of quality control, design guidance, and market access, the program demonstrated that beading could serve as a consistent source of income. For Pelina, the most compelling element was simple and persuasive: the opportunity to earn her own money and be paid fairly for her work. The social enterprise, which now supports 1,200 pastoralist women across nine community conservancies, confirms that these traditional skills can be linked to consistent, meaningful income rather than to episodic use or barter alone.
The income from beading introduced a new sense of predictability into her household. As a mother of six, aged from early childhood through adolescence, Pelina is responsible for her family’s daily needs and long-term well-being. What mattered most was stability. Unlike narratives of survival built on borrowing as default, Pelina’s life has seen that pattern decline. Earlier in her life, she might have borrowed money to meet day-to-day needs, but that was before she had reliable earnings. Her income from BeadWORKS now provides a dependable weekly cash flow: she receives regular payments for beaded products sold through local and international channels. In 2024 alone, the network of artisans collectively saw product sales exceed KES 25 million, with artisans earning over KES 4 million from items they produced and contributing to both household and conservation needs without reverting to unsustainable coping strategies.
One moment that clarified this change for her occurred when her last daughter was sent home from school for not having a school uniform. The uniform cost KES 600, a modest sum in absolute terms but significant in context. Instead of scrambling for casual credit, Pelina approached a local tailor with confidence, grounded in her upcoming payment; they agreed to credit based on it, and the situation was resolved without stress. This instance signalled both her prudence and the emerging financial agency she now exercises.
Beyond income, BeadWORKS also exposed her to leadership support, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy trainings. These sessions offered concepts that Pelina applies directly in her daily life, particularly in managing household resources and making decisions for her family. BeadWORKS artisans participate in entrepreneurship support that extends to savings mobilisation and access to financial institutions such as the Rangelands SACCO, where many now hold savings accounts and can access formal loans. This shift is reinforced by mutual support structures within the women’s groups themselves, through which members save together and secure loans, fostering a social community grounded not only in craft but also in shared economic planning and mentorship.
Pelina’s consistency over the years has made her a respected artisan and informal mentor. She continues to enjoy making belts and animal-inspired pieces, especially lion designs, that reflect her love for wildlife conservation, cultural heritage, and market appeal. Her contribution to the women’s saving group — and the mentorship she both gives and receives — is part of a communal ecosystem in which financial habits, marketing skills, and collective ambition are reinforced.
Today, Pelina’s life is marked by a practical stability that would have been hard to imagine before her association with BeadWORKS. She pays school fees, contributes to household nutrition and healthcare, and plans incremental improvements, such as building a permanent home to accommodate her family’s needs. Her story, situated within a program that has generated hundreds of millions in sales and elevated women’s participation in both local and global markets, illustrates how sustained, market-linked craft enterprises can reshape livelihoods through continuity, competence, and economic independence.
Read more on how “Bead Work Makes the Dream Work”, an article published by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a long-time partner of BeadWORKS Kenya.
When Jamarose Moru thinks about her childhood, she remembers her parents struggling to keep them in school. They had never received formal education themselves, especially given their pastoralist background, which has a record of some of the lowest school-completion rates in the country, largely due to poverty and a lack of financial support. Livestock was the family’s only asset, and when schoolbooks or uniforms were needed, a goat or sheep would often be sold. Her eldest sister reached Class Eight before dropping out; the two subsequent siblings never enrolled. Jamarose managed to finish primary school, but the cost of secondary education was far beyond what her family could afford.
After leaving school, Jamarose found herself on a path that many young women in her situation often tread. She rose early to fetch water, sometimes firewood, helping her mother with chores, and tended to the family’s herd until she got married by the time she was 18. Her husband’s income as a casual security guard was irregular, and with children to care for, Jamarose turned to selling charcoal, a demanding, environmentally taxing trade, but the only option available at the time.
In the middle of her day-to-day activities, she would often pass a group of women who met regularly under a tree, with a locked metal box at the centre of their circle. In a place where little went unnoticed, everyone knew what the gatherings were about: the local Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA). Jamarose had always known of it but never thought it could apply to her; saving a few coins seemed pointless when every shilling already had a purpose. Yet she couldn’t ignore how the group seemed to weather difficulties differently by finding help among themselves. That quiet sense of security and the way they supported one another began to shift her thinking. After a while, she joined them, considering it a small but hopeful beginning.
Jamarose packs tomatoes for a customer
In January 2018, she was also introduced to Rangelands SACCO through its Community Enterprise Agent. As a member of a formal financial institution, she saw it as an opportunity to strengthen her growing financial discipline and began saving consistently. By 2023, her savings were enough to qualify her for a first loan of Ksh. 60,000. With that, she opened a small shop near their manyatta in Attan, just about a kilometre from Tractor, the nearby town centre within the Nakuprat-Gotu Conservancy. Her shop became a direct response to the everyday challenges her community faced. Many residents had to travel long distances to Isiolo town to buy basic supplies, making the trip inconvenient and costly. By stocking essential goods such as sugar, cooking oil, rice, cereals, and even stationery, she met local demand and eased the financial and physical burdens of access.
That same year, a Biashara Mashinani endline survey found that 99.7% of businesses supported in NRT community conservancies had survived the 2022–2023 drought. Among them was Jamarose’s, which, despite enduring significant losses, remained operational. Her customers, mostly livestock keepers, were struck, forcing them to migrate in search of pasture and water. Much of her income was also channelled towards ensuring the survival of their animals, including veterinary services, supplements, and water. In 2024, determined to recover and strengthen her business, she secured a second loan of Ksh. 70,000 from the Sacco, which she used to renovate and expand her shop, ensuring it could better serve her customers’ needs.
On good days, she can serve up to 30 customers, bringing in around Ksh. 5,000. However, there are also slower days when her earnings might only reach Ksh. 1,000. When the business is less busy in the afternoon, she tends to their one-acre maize and bean farm and sells the surplus in her shop for extra income.
Jamarose arranges packets of sugar neatly on the shelf
The mother of seven has long-term plans to take her business to the next level. One of her big goals is to enrol in a driving school so she can obtain her license and eventually secure another loan to buy a vehicle to help her deliver goods more efficiently. With reliable transportation, she hopes to reduce delivery costs and grow her business into a supply hub for other local shopkeepers.
Jamarose has become an advocate for sustainable, climate-conscious entrepreneurship, encouraging other women to explore alternatives to charcoal-burning and to join financial institutions such as Rangelands SACCO. She believes that access to tailored services, including savings, credit, investment opportunities, and valuable training in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, can transform lives, and she’s determined to help others tap into that potential.
Ibrahim Adan (L) and Mohamud Mohammed (R) at their workshop in Saleti
If you’re scrolling through TikTok, you might stumble upon a video that feels different from the usual dance trends. It’s a close-up shot of two pairs of hands, steady as surgeons, working under a bright bulb or natural light. One hand holds a heat gun to the edge of a shattered smartphone, while the other carefully manoeuvres a thin prying tool.
This is the digital storefront of Moibra Phone Repair Services. It’s how Mohamud Mohammed and Ibrahim Adan, two friends from Saleti village, are telling the world that they’ve arrived.
To understand Moibra, you have to understand the bond between the two men behind the name. Mohamud and Ibrahim weren’t just classmates; they were friends who grew up in the same neighbourhood, navigating the same frustrations. After finishing Form Four, they found themselves in that hollow, quiet period that often follows secondary school in rural areas. For two years, they stayed at home, helping where they could, but feeling the weight of being “idle.” For Mohamud, the pressure was even more personal—he had started a family, who were counting on him, and he knew that just “getting by” wasn’t going to pay for the school fees his oldest child would soon need.
They didn’t want to just find any job; they wanted to solve a problem they saw every day in Saleti. The village was full of smartphones, but it was a “repair desert.” If your phone’s mouthpiece died or the speaker gave out, you were stuck. Seeing this, the two friends decided to enroll together in the three-month mobile repair course. While they were friends before the training, it was over those workbenches that they realised they functioned better as a team. By the time graduation came on February 13, 2024, they didn’t just have certificates; they had a business plan.
They knew that if they didn’t start immediately, the techniques they’d mastered would start to get “rusty.” Practice makes perfect, and they couldn’t afford to be anything less than perfect. They pooled KSh 10,000 each, a massive amount given they’d been out of work for two years, and rented a tiny room for KSh 1,000.
It was a tough, gritty start. The shop had no electricity. They had to rely on solar panels, which meant their workday was entirely at the mercy of the weather. On cloudy days, or once the sun began to dip toward the horizon at 4:00 PM, their tools went cold. They had the startup toolkits from the program—the fine-tipped screwdrivers, the multimeters, the soldering irons—but without consistent power, they were limited. Yet they stuck it out for six months in that dark shop, saving every coin and building a reputation as the only qualified technicians in the area.
By April 8, 2024, they officially launched the Moibra brand. They weren’t just “fixing phones”; they were running a professional service. To get the word out, they put up posters and took to TikTok, using social media to show off their repairs to a younger, tech-savvy audience. The strategy worked. Soon, customers weren’t just coming from Saleti, but travelling from Malkagalla and Merti because they finally had qualified technicians close to home. By October, the savings from their first shop allowed them to do something bold. They moved into their own new establishment that finally had electricity connectivity after the village got connected to the power grid.
It was an investment of over KSh 25,000 into their future. With constant power, they could finally handle the high-stakes jobs, like screen replacements that cost between KSh 2,800 and KSh 3,000. They also made a smart choice by adding a barber shop section. They realised that in Saleti, people travel a long way to get their phones fixed. By offering a haircut for KSh 700 or 800 while the client waited for a new phone speaker or mouthpiece, they ensured the shop was always buzzing, and income was always steady.
Thanks to the entrepreneurship and financial literacy lessons they received from Biashara Mashinani, the partners maintain strict records. They track their monthly profits and share them fairly, and they’ve learned the hard way to avoid unnecessary credit extensions that could drain their cash flow.
For Mohamud, the shop is a lifeline. It means his children have a father who can provide for them, and his oldest can stay in school without the fear of being sent home for fees. For the village, the two men have earned a new kind of respect. They aren’t just “the boys from the neighbourhood” anymore; they are the experts who brought the digital world back to life in Saleti.
Their plan for the next few years is to take Moibra even further, opening branches in other towns and eventually helping other young people get off the streets. They might eventually open their own separate shops one day, but for now, they are proving that a friendship forged in the village and tempered over a soldering iron is the strongest foundation a business can have.
It is a Wednesday morning in Archers Post, and by nine o’clock the town is already alive with activity. Just off the highway, a freshly painted pink door stands out among a row of stalls. Through the string curtain at its entrance, black-and-pink salon chairs are visible beneath warm gypsum lights reflected in wide mirrors. A customer, freshly shaved, leans forward to inspect his reflection. At the counter, a woman jots in a notebook, shelves of neatly arranged beauty products framing the space.
That woman is Priscilla Nchichi Juma, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and the owner of Vinpelo Spa & Salon. When Priscilla first expressed interest in studying hairdressing and beauty therapy, reactions were mixed. Some encouraged her; others dismissed it as impractical, a pastime rather than a profession. Today, her confidence is unmistakable, rooted in the experience of building a business from the ground up.
Before all of this took shape, Priscilla’s life was far from what it is today. The youngest of seven children, life changed drastically after losing both parents and the family’s circumstances shifted abruptly. Priscilla and her siblings were taken in by relatives, and her maternal aunt became her guardian, doing her best despite limited means. Although Priscilla completed primary school, financial constraints made secondary education unattainable.
In the years that followed, she relied on casual work to contribute to household needs. The income was modest and unpredictable, leaving little opportunity to save. At 22, she married and continued working to support her family. Together with her husband, they managed as best they could, but school fees, food, and daily expenses consumed most of their income, leaving little room to invest in a business of her own.
Her introduction to hairdressing came through informal work at local salons. She began with basic tasks like washing clients’ hair, cleaning up, and handing over hairpieces to stylists in the middle of braiding. Before long, she was helping with cornrows, blow-dries, and styling. “Watching clients light up when they looked in the mirror made me fall in love with this work,” she recalls.
Priscilla performs a facial scrub for a client
Although she dreamed of owning a salon, Priscilla believed that proper training was essential – more than just skills learned by observation. She held onto her dream, considering it something for “one day.” That opportunity came in 2024, when she learned about Ujuzi Manyattani, a flagship mobile vocational training program under MashinaniWORKS that aimed to empower youth and women like her through practical skills training, without disrupting their way of life. The program, endorsed by the Sera Conservancy management, local leaders, and stakeholders, arrived at the right moment for her. Priscilla enrolled in a three-month course in hairdressing and beauty therapy and the program’s flexibility allowed her to attend classes while caring for her youngest child, making learning seamless for mothers like her.
Under the guidance of an instructor from Kiirua Technical Training Institute, Priscilla strengthened her technical skills, learning braiding, haircutting, skincare treatments, manicures, pedicures, and makeup application. Alongside vocational skills training, she and her classmates received business and financial literacy training, which is a key component to developing the skills needed to manage sustainable enterprises and generate profitable income. It has played an essential role in enhancing graduates’ business acumen, leading 88% of them to establish promising careers in related fields.
Priscilla completed the three-month training in June 2024, earning a Level 3 (Mastery) certificate in Hairdressing from Nyeri National Polytechnic, a nationally recognised qualification. She also received a startup toolkit to help her begin her journey in the beauty industry. Rather than opening a salon immediately, she took time to plan carefully. She began by working from home and offering mobile services within her neighbourhood, refining her skills while saving and learning about local demand.
Priscilla receives her certificate and start-up toolkits in the presence of dignitaries, led by Former British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, during the Ujuzi Manyattani graduation held in Doldol on 19th June 2024
As a member of a women’s table banking group, Priscilla had been saving and borrowing from their shared fund. When the time felt right, she combined her savings with a small loan. The funds allowed her to renovate a space, purchase salon furniture, and stock essential products. A few months later, her long-held dream became Vinpelo Spa & Salon.
The response from the community exceeded her expectations. Men came in for haircuts, while women booked appointments for styling and beauty services. Products that were previously difficult to find locally sold quickly. Saturdays, which coincide with market days in Archers Post, became especially busy, bustling from morning until afternoon. Today, the salon generates between KES 8,000 and 10,000 on a good day from services and product sales.
Competition in the beauty industry is unavoidable, especially in her industry, where loyalty runs deep. However, her clients keep returning. She attributes this to offering personalized attention, consistent follow-ups, and treating everyone as if they were the first of the day. This professionalism has earned her trust and word-of-mouth referrals which have slowly become her strongest marketing tools.
Her success now extends beyond her own household. The salon employs two young people, one as a barber and another assisting with hair and beauty services. The income she earns has also enabled her to support three teenagers in school, some of whom are orphans or come from financially vulnerable families.
Looking ahead, Priscilla plans to expand into wholesale beauty supplies and eventually become a Trainer of Trainers, which will offer a practical way to sharing skills to extend opportunity to other young people build livelihoods of their own, drawing directly on the pathway she accessed through Ujuzi Manyattani.
Before the sound of running water ever meant income, Paul Kiperus was known around Kiwanja as the guy you’d find at the riverbeds, loading sand onto lorries. Today, he’s the one people call when their tanks are leaking or when they finally decide to install indoor plumbing.
He was in Form 1 when everything changed. An elephant attacked his father while he was running errands. The injuries were serious, such that both legs were broken, and just like that, Paul had to stop school. The money that would have been allocated for his school fees was redirected to cover hospital bills and other medical expenses. As the eldest child, he stepped up, and school had to wait as he stayed back to take care of his siblings.
To make ends meet, Paul worked at sand harvesting sites. He’d get Ksh. 300 for every lorry he helped load. Most of the time, he was forced to work in the dead of night; it was cold, tiring, and risky. The riverbeds could flood without warning, and on more than one occasion, he feared for his life. But he kept going because staying idle was not an option.
While working as a sand harvester, Paul still found time to help around his community. He had volunteered for two years to monitor water pipes in a nearby Community Land Management Committee (CLMC) project, even though he didn’t know how to fix them. Whenever there was a leak, someone else had to be called in. The board saw his dedication, and when Ujuzi Manyattani came, they suggested he take it a step further by enrolling in a plumbing course under the vocational training program. It was something he had quietly been working toward all along.
At first, upon joining, he was nervous. He had never been to a classroom since dropping out of school. Some of the skills he was taught included pipe fitting, water supply, drainage systems, and plumbing fixtures, among others. They even had practical sessions in nearby schools.
After completing training, Paul didn’t sit still. He took on small jobs, such as fixing tanks, repairing leaks, and connecting homes to the water supply. His phone started ringing more often. For the first time in years, he had regular work and income he could count on. “I’d leave the house in the morning and come back in the evening with something for the family,” he says.
With his nationally recognized certificate in hand, Paul applied for a job under the Makurian Osirua Water Project with Laikipia County. He was accepted as a casual and has now been on the payroll for nine months, earning around Ksh. 9,000 monthly. For bigger jobs, he links his classmates from the program.
He’s also been involved by the Mayianat Conservancy management in repairing pipelines that elephants have destroyed.
Their area had always struggled with access to water. When a storage tank was finally built to help the community, many families wanted water piped directly to their homes. Paul took it upon himself to lend a hand. The demand grew so rapidly that he decided to open a small plumbing workshop, stocking fittings and connectors that people used to travel as far as Nanyuki to buy.
With support from Rangelands SACCO through FFI-Darwin, he got a Ksh. 50,000 loan to expand. Paul dreams of further growing his shop, adding things beyond plumbing and other hardware materials.
The 2022 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Demographic and Health Survey revealed a high dependence on traditional cooking fuels. According to the survey, 68.5% of the Kenyan population (9.1 million; 1.7 million in urban areas and 7.4 million in rural areas), rely on traditional cooking fuel options – firewood and charcoal as their primary source.
In Northern Kenya, energy poverty persists as a significant barrier to health, education, and economic opportunities. A 2023 Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) assessment found that 76% of households use firewood and 48% rely on charcoal for daily cooking, often over traditional open fires that produce significant amounts of smoke. The use of fuelwood for cooking in households and institutions exacerbates the issue of rangeland degradation and indoor air pollution, with consequences on their respiratory health.
While 57% of households use mobile solar lamps for lighting, many still rely on kerosene or have no access to lighting at all, which limits productivity and learning opportunities after dark. This further reinforces the broader challenges of poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to opportunity, especially in a region that already experiences marginalization due to climate change, geography, infrastructure gaps, and low household incomes.
Recognizing these dynamics, MashinaniWORKS, in collaboration with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) through its Nature-based Solutions, Water, and Energy Project, supported by Danida, initiated a sensitization and pilot program on sustainable energy from May 26 to June 20, 2025. The exercise was carried out in 11 NRT member community conservancies across Leparua, Sera, Kalama, Westgate, Ilngwesi, Lekurruki, Naibunga Lower, Naibunga Central, Melako, Jaldesa, and Shurr, in Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, and Laikipia Counties. Women engaged in beadwork and the Rangelands SACCO formed the core participants, reflecting an understanding that women, as household energy managers.
The objective of this exercise was to determine which cooking and lighting fuels are currently in use among community members and to identify other suitable options that save time and money, improve health, and have a positive environmental impact.
Findings revealed that firewood remains the primary cooking fuel in all conservancies, with 43% of households also using charcoal and only 3.2% accessing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), mostly for making tea. A few households had biogas systems, but most were non-functional due to a lack of water, maintenance issues, and limited user training. Although communities are aware of cleaner options, high costs and accessibility barriers have prevented adoption.
Economic and temporal costs associated with traditional fuels emerged as a recurring concern. On average, households spent approximately KES 1,270 per week (over KES 60,000 annually) on firewood and charcoal, an expense that is disproportionate to local income levels. Many women described walking long distances and spending up to nine hours each week collecting firewood, often under conditions of insecurity. The implications are multifaceted: reduced time for income-generating activities, heightened exposure to physical danger, and growing pressure on already degraded landscapes.
Beyond the financial strain, the health and emotional toll is severe. Participants described daily struggles with smoke-filled kitchens, respiratory and eye problems, back pain, and burn injuries. None of the households are connected to the national power grid; 69% use portable solar lamps, while 31% rely on small solar panels that require regular payments to remain active. For women who rely on beadwork as a source of income, lighting has a direct impact on productivity and their livelihood.
Several participants shared their personal experiences, revealing the human cost behind traditional fuel use.
Another added, “I stepped out for less than five minutes — in those few minutes, I lost my little girl to burns from firewood.”
A second participant said, “If I could afford the improved cookstove, it would mean rest and healing to my legs and back.”
Such voices exemplified the gendered dimensions of energy poverty, underscoring the urgent need for cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy options in these communities.
Through this participatory process, a strong demand was identified for energy solutions, including improved cookstoves and solar power. Communities themselves have identified a network of highly trusted sales agents to distribute these sustainable energy products that align with their lifestyles and can be affordably adopted. These agents have undergone training on the operation and maintenance of the jikos. They will be able to assist the community members, ensuring the products deliver maximum benefit and long-term value.
These findings laid the groundwork for the launch of MotoSAFI Mashinani, a clean-energy initiative by MashinaniWORKS, which aims to promote access to and adoption of sustainable energy solutions for communities.
The program was officially launched in Chumvi, Il Ngwesi Conservancy, on September 16, 2025, bringing together community members to celebrate a new chapter in clean and sustainable energy in northern Kenya. The event was coupled with the distribution of cookstoves to 130 households.
Since the pilot, the initiative has gained strong momentum. Over 500 energy-saving cookstoves have been distributed across the 11 conservancies, including 260 new units in Kalama, Sera, Naibunga Central, Melako, and Jaldesa. Through the local sales agents, families are now accessing cleaner, more affordable solutions that reduce smoke, lower household expenses, and protect the fragile rangeland environment.
The ambition is to reach 5,000 households by the end of next year, a target that, if achieved, could offer a replicable model for integrated, community-led approaches to energy access.
With the generous support of Danida through NRT, MotoSAFI Mashinani represents a significant step toward resilience and sustainable development in Kenya’s historically marginalized areas.
On a normal day, you’ll find her sitting cross-legged low to the ground on a flattened carton that shields her from the dust and rough soil beneath just outside her manyatta in Ngare Ndare. A shallow container beside her is filled with glass beads—blue, black, white, red, yellow, and green. A thin wire rests between her fingers, and she threads each bead onto it. It’s clear what she is making will turn out incredibly good, as her arms are lined with bangles and bracelets, her neck heavy with lkiripa (neckpieces)—layers she’s added over time, made by her own hands.
Sometimes she works alone. On other days, she is with her group of 10 women, beading as they talk or sing their favorite Maa songs.
Meroni Leruso never knew she would become the remarkable woman she is today. She remembers growing up in a patriarchal society that often overlooked the girl child – a woman’s value was to take care of her children and conduct household duties. Marital problems from their polygamous family cost Meroni her right to quality education, and long before she could hardly memorize the alphabetical order, she was taken out of school – Nursery school.
She had no option but to stay home and help her mother whenever she could. On school days, while carrying out tasks like collecting firewood or fetching water, she would encounter other children on their way to school – a dream that remained just that.
At just 14 years old, life threw Meroni another harsh blow when she was married off against her will. While other girls her age were attending school, she found herself thrust into the demanding roles of a wife and mother.
Meroni would later find herself doing small daily hustles like farming for others and selling firewood to make ends meet. Eventually, she separated from her husband, which left her facing the challenge of raising her children on her own. At times, she had to leave them behind to go hustle and had to pay someone to care for them, which was a heavy burden for her.
Her paths crossed with women from her village who were already BeadWORKS artisans. As a cultural activity associated with her community, she felt the urge to join them. In 2021, the single mother of three joined BeadWORKS, aiming to earn extra money to support her children and cover household expenses.
As she beaded, BeadWORKS became more than a source of income. She has embraced conservation, enjoying the process of making orders that require loom beading and bracelet-making, with lion and zebra-inspired colorways. Additionally, the leadership training and exposure tours she received through BeadWORKS have helped her grow into a respected leader among her beading group and in the broader community. Meroni now holds the title of Star Beader in her group at Il Ngwesi Conservancy, where she serves as the point of contact and ensures the quality of the assigned products meets standards before sending them to the BeadWORKS office.
Meroni addresses a meeting during the issuance of conservation fees for BeadWORKS Laikipia County conservancies in 2023
“I am very confident now; I speak in big community meetings and contribute to issues that affect the community and me. I now get invited to talk to women in my village and am often hired by partner organizations to train others in beading.”
Meroni has also contributed to peace efforts that have helped conflicting groups, like the Samburu and Maasai communities, mend their relationships. But nothing prepared her for the day her phone rang with a call from the State House in 2016, and she was acknowledged for her contribution to peace efforts. This was an incredibly surreal and emotional experience for Meroni that filled her with a sense of pride and validation for the hard work she voluntarily put in.
Meroni is now a skilled artisan, thriving in her craft, making products for the local and international markets. Her vision for the next 2–3 years is to run a business, further educate her children, and own a plot of land.
Picture this: A woman sits under the shade of an acacia tree, her hands working magic with tiny glass beads, threading them together to create patterns for a keychain that mirror the spots on a giraffe or the tusk of an elephant. At the end of the week, these ‘love letters’ to the wildlife and culture that inspires her craft will turn into an income.
This is the world of BeadWORKS, where something as simple as a glass bead becomes a lifeline, a voice, a force for change, and an unlikely product financing conservation efforts and developments in northern Kenya.
On 22nd July, at the Kalama Conservancy Headquarters, BeadWORKS artisans from nine NRT community conservancies across Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, and Marsabit came together for a noble cause, contributing KSh 3.5 million in conservation fees.
The funds were allocated as follows:
Conservancy
Conservation Fees (in KES)
Melako
897,212
Il Ngwesi
874,560
Sera
394,304
Westgate
370,204
Lekurruki
268,863
Leparua
242,948
Kalama
230,772
Naibunga Lower
136,270
Naibunga Central
132,208
This amount represents 5% of their annual sales income, dedicated to supporting conservation efforts and community development projects, like supporting conservancy rangers, wildlife protection, or school bursaries. Since its inception in 2016, the conservation fee model under BeadWORKS has generated KSh 13.37 million, directly benefiting community-led conservancies.
BeadWORKS, a World Fair Trade Organization-certified enterprise, is a business line under MashinaniWORKS that has, for over 15 years, established an organized network of 1,200 pastoralist women in northern Kenya, creating income-generating opportunities by transforming their traditional beading skills into high-quality, handcrafted products.
In 2024 alone, BeadWORKS generated Ksh 36.2 million in product sales, raising its total revenue since 2016 to Ksh 267.45 million. The women themselves earned 10.6 million shillings in 2024 from creating 75,626 products – earrings, belts, keychains, decorative pieces, and more. Over the years, these artisans have put 80 million shillings directly into their own pockets – money that allows them to pay school fees, put food on the table, start businesses, and, in several cases, leave behind destructive survival activities like charcoal burning.
“BeadWORKS is not just about beading. Every bead tells a story – of resilience and economic empowerment of our women. It’s a skill that takes them from one level to another.” Salma Lekoomet, BeadWORKS Production Manager.
In the communities where BeadWORKS operates, women traditionally haven’t had much say in decision-making, but that has since shifted.
The women have gone on to take leadership roles among themselves, serving as Star Beaders or members of peace committees, and even in conservancy boards. Now, when meetings happen, women’s voices fill the room. When families make financial decisions, women contribute to the discussion. When children dream about their future, they see their mothers as examples of what’s possible.
They have also gained access to financial institutions, like the Rangelands SACCO, where most of them are members, allowing them to save money and take loans.
“Previously, many of us relied on our husbands for financial support, always waiting for them to provide for our needs. However, now that we’ve achieved financial independence, the dynamics have shifted, allowing us to contribute equally and support one another.” Joyce Lelukai said, adding that, “I also opened an account with Rangelands SACCO, and I’ve borrowed loans for starting my businesses and building a modern house.”
She was echoed by her counterpart, Nkasupat Leariyaro, who is a Star Beader and vice chairperson of the Melako Conservancy board. Through BeadWORKS, Nkasupat has been exposed to life-changing experiences, including the recent trip to the United States of America.
At the celebration officiated by the Marsabit Deputy Governor, Hon. Solomon Gubo, along with other county officials and partners, 103 Star Beaders were recognized and awarded Ksh. 1.17 million. The artisans work in groups, with each Star Beader supervising between 10 and 15 women. They play a crucial role in ensuring quality control and coordination, serving as the link between their network and the BeadWORKS office. They also provide mentorship and training to their members.
That didn’t stop there. Nine Star Beaders from each conservancy were awarded for their outstanding performance. Three best overall beaders out of the 1,200 – Nasaru Leariyaro of Melako Conservancy, Christine Shuel of Il Ngwesi Conservancy, and Nantiyon Letaapoof Sera Conservancy – were awarded with solar kits.
Melako and Il Ngwesi Conservancies also won Best Conservancies in the year 2023/24 awards.
What started in the villages of northern Kenya now reaches across oceans. BeadWORKS handcrafted products appear in displays across Africa, North America, Australia, and Europe. Every purchase connects someone thousands of miles away to these talented artisans.
Here, the BeadWORKS e-commerce website has been a transformative success. The website generated Ksh. 827,148 in sales in 2024 alone, but more importantly, it has been winning recognition. The Kenya E-commerce Awards have consecutively honored BeadWORKS: Gold for Best Sustainability Initiative in 2022, Gold for Best International/Export E-commerce website in 2023, and in 2024, a triple win – Gold for Best Handcrafted Fashion E-commerce Website, Silver for Best Cross-Border E-commerce Website, and Silver for Best Jewelry E-commerce Website.
BeadWORKS has also established itself as a globally recognized brand, partnering with other brands such as Ibu Movement, the Ethical Fashion Initiative, and Mifuko – all of which share similar perspectives to BeadWORKS.
This network of women has grown into something unprecedented in northern Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) – a women-led enterprise addressing profound challenges including gender-based violence, poverty, malnutrition, and insecurity, through economic empowerment.
Across nine conservancies, the 1,200 women will continue the work that has already proved to be life-changing.
When you choose BeadWORKS, you’re carrying the dreams of women who wake up every morning and choose to make their world better. You’re making a business transaction with some of the most skilled artisans in Africa. You’re ensuring that their children stay in school, you’re connecting your style to their story, and your purchase to their power.
Visit www.beadworkskenya.com to purchase beautifully beaded handcrafted products made in northern Kenya that change lives.
Born and raised in Kiwanja, within the Maiyanat Conservancy in Laikipia County, Jackline Wamoke was practically raised on the scent of hair oils, the rhythmic tug of braids being parted and plaited, and the lively chatter that fills a salon.
Her mother, a long-practicing hairdresser, passed down more than a profession; she nurtured a sense of possibility. Jackline’s older sister followed that same path, and together, they formed a kind of informal apprenticeship that shaped Jackline from an early age.
During school holidays, she would spend hours in the salon, slowly learning the techniques through observation and practice, the rhythm of customer care, and the business instinct required. These small acts of care and craft shaped Jackline’s childhood and, over time, revealed that she could one day take on the family trade.
After completing Form Four in 2023, she enrolled in Ujuzi Manyattani in March 2024, a program designed to empower young people in marginalized areas by offering hands-on vocational skills locally relevant to their communities’ needs, which can translate into immediate income. The training went far beyond what she had learned in her mother’s salon. Ujuzi Manyattani introduced her to contemporary trends in beauty and personal care, expanding her expertise to include beauty therapy, such as makeup, manicures, and pedicures. Jackline quickly distinguished herself among the top performers in her cohort, propelled by a desire to elevate her craft to a professional level.
Upon graduating, Jackline wasn’t looking for a job; she was returning to one. Her sister, who had been managing the family salon, passed the baton to Jackline and was ready for its next phase. She made immediate upgrades to the salon, starting with the tools she received through the Ujuzi Manyattani program to redefine the customer experience. She replaced the small wall-mounted mirror with a full-sized one, added a blow dryer and a sink for improved hair treatment services, and hair clippers to begin offering barbering, an in-demand service in the area.
These changes might seem small, but they made a world of difference in both the quality of service she could provide and how customers viewed her business. She didn’t need to win the community’s trust from scratch. They already knew her first as the young girl helping around the salon, later as a trained stylist with new skills to offer. In Kiwanja, where only two other salons operate, competition is limited, and Jackline’s reputation gives her a natural edge. She’s precise, whether it’s lines for schoolgirls, plaits for weekend weddings, or a fresh shave for the boys, she does it all with passion, making sitting on her salon chair something to look forward to.
On a regular day, she sees four to five customers, though that number often rises during peak periods, such as school openings and community events. Her mother, still very much part of this evolving journey, often steps in to help during these high-traffic days. On a good day, Jackline can make anywhere from Ksh. 800 to Ksh. 3,000, depending on the number of customers she serves.
Now, her income is directed to savings, but she still manages to set something aside for her younger siblings’ pocket money and help out with the little things that add up in a household, such as restocking sugar when it runs out or picking up flour on her way home. Her entrepreneurial spirit also pushed her to start selling shoes, clothes, and beads from her salon, which is another way to earn extra money.
Jackline dreams of expanding her salon into a larger space to accommodate more customers and offer additional services.
