Amid escalating climate challenges, women from indigenous communities in Isiolo County are pioneering new pathways to resilience. With its arid and semi-arid landscapes, Isiolo is a region where 80 per cent of the land is non-arable, primarily used for grazing.
With only five per cent of the county classified as semi-arid, 30 per cent arid, and 65 per cent very arid, agriculture here has always been a fragile venture.
Kenya’s agricultural sector remains a cornerstone of the nation’s economic and social fabric, yet it faces numerous challenges, including low productivity, limited access to resources, and growing vulnerability to climate change.
Projections for East Africa are dire: rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increasingly frequent climate shocks such as droughts and floods. These pressures exacerbate the struggles of rural communities, threatening food security and livelihoods.
Although Kenya contributes less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, its pastoralist communities endure some of the harshest impacts of climate change, with droughts now recurring every two years.
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Women and girls in northern Kenya bear the brunt of water scarcity, trekking for hours to distant boreholes and competing with livestock at overcrowded kiosks.
Amid these challenges, indigenous women in Kipsing, Isiolo County, are becoming agents of change. Through innovative, community-led solutions, they are restoring ecosystems, fostering biodiversity, and addressing the impacts of climate change.
Often overlooked as stewards of the environment and culture, they are rewriting the narrative—turning adversity into opportunity while preserving their heritage and the land they call home.
The indigenous women have taken on the role of environmental stewards, drawing on centuries of traditional knowledge to protect and nurture their natural surroundings. Among them, the women of Sieku village have established the Miti ni Mali Indigenous Women Arboretum, a ground breaking initiative dedicated to planting and conserving endangered indigenous tree species.
Supported by the Samburu Women Trust Organisation, the arboretum not only aims to restore biodiversity but also empowers women economically and socially, extending benefits to the entire community.
The arboretum’s work addresses the challenge of preserving indigenous tree species in the face of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns.
Historically marginalised, these women often lack ownership of land or livestock and are excluded from key decision-making processes, compounding their challenges during times of crisis.
The Miti ni Mali Indigenous Women Arboretum offers a beacon of hope for Isiolo’s communities. Managed entirely by indigenous women, the arboretum is structured around four core programmes designed to provide sustainable livelihoods and environmental benefits such as Kitchen gardening and tree planting, women cultivate kitchen gardens and plant indigenous tree seedlings to enhance food security and biodiversity.
Beekeeping and honey harvesting activities generate income while promoting pollination and ecological balance. Meanwhile, beadwork value addition makes local women craft and sell traditional beadwork, preserving cultural heritage and creating economic opportunities.
Gum Arabic and resin harvesting offers a valuable alternative income source and also economic resilience during prolonged droughts.
Since its inception, the arboretum has planted over 1,000 indigenous tree seedlings, established thriving kitchen gardens, and created strong women’s groups focused on gum Arabic collection and beadwork.
Beyond its economic impact, the arboretum serves as a learning centre where community members can gain knowledge about the medicinal, cultural, and ceremonial importance of indigenous tree species. Traditional elders lead these educational programs, ensuring the inter generational transfer of knowledge.
Samburu Women Trust Executive Director Jane Nani Meriwas emphasizes that the arboretum is more than just a women’s project.
“It creates employment for the youth and benefits the entire community,” she says. By allocating specific tasks to different groups, the initiative also fosters collaboration and shared responsibility.