Community Sacco empowers drought-hit pastoralist regions

Not long ago, pastoralists in northern and coastal counties had limited access to financial services. Nomadic lifestyle, little education, and distant banking left them with no savings or capital for business.

“We had no money to save. Droughts wiped out our livestock, and we struggled to buy food,” said Emmaculate Naikele from Laisamis, Marsabit County.

Naikele is a member of Rangelands Sacco, initiated by Northern Rangelands Trust’s MashinaniWORKS, which empowers communities in remote wildlife conservancies. Members gathered at Archers Post, Samburu County, for the Sacco’s AGM, celebrating financial empowerment.

Membership has grown to over 7,000, mostly women, including bead makers, livestock traders, and small business owners. Members receive financial and business training and access credit to grow enterprises. “In our pastoralist regions, people had limited education and financial access. Now they can open shops, start boda boda ventures, and diversify income amid droughts,” said Kelvin Demogle, Sacco supervisory chairman..

Naikele was among tens of members of Rangelands Sacco, an institution initiated by Northern Rangelands Trust’s MashinaniWORKS, which works to empower communities in remote wildlife conservancies.

Members from northern and coastal regions converged at Archers Post in Samburu County for the sacco’s annual general meeting, celebrating the much-needed financial empowerment.

According to Kelvin Demogle, chairman of the sacco’s supervisory committee, membership has grown to over 7,000, up from 315 a decade ago.

The majority of members are women, including bead makers, livestock traders, and small business owners. Demogle said members benefit from financial and business management training and can access credit to grow various enterprises. “In our pastoralist regions, people had limited education and financial access. Now they can open shops, start boda boda ventures, and diversify income amid droughts,” said Kelvin Demogle, Sacco supervisory chairman.

At the AGM, model members were recognised: Naikele received the ‘Top Saver’ award, and Stephen Mamai from Laikipia won ‘Best Borrower.’ Mamai said loans enabled him to start businesses, buy and resell goats, and sustain his family

Through the Sacco, members access credit for small enterprises, livestock trade, education financing, and household assets. Co-operative officer Diramu Guyo noted diligent loan repayment and savings. “We added 500 new members last year, helping pastoralists diversify income,” he said.