• For many years, married women with little or no formal education in Kilifi have remained housewives while men have been the sole breadwinners.
• But the story is changing fast as hundreds of women who have joined various groups now earn a living to improve the living standards of their families.
Image: FILE
Empowerment groups are slowly changing the lives of jobless and uneducated women in Kilifi, most of whom now have reliable sources of income.
Members of such groups benefit from basic training sponsored by the government and other organisations to start income generating activities.
For many years, married women with little or no formal education in Kilifi have remained housewives while men have been the sole breadwinners.
But the story is changing fast as hundreds of women who have joined various groups now earn a living to improve the living standards of their families.
Fifteen women who joined Bidii na Kazi group, led by their chairlady Amina Hamisi from Mida village in Kilifi, did not attend school beyond the primary level.
They started a conservation project of mangroves and planted more than 50,000 mangrove seedlings. After the sale of the seedlings they earned enough money to pay school fees for their children and undertake other financial obligations.
The group was later sponsored by the Kenya National Museums and its partners to construct a restaurant along the mangrove bushes to conserve the ecosystem.
The group sells food to tourists visiting the forest as they enjoy the serenity of the trees, birds and the ocean.
“Our main source of income was selling mangrove seedlings, but with the restaurant, we have money now. We are confident while visiting the bank. When I go to withdraw cash, I just place a finger and take the money,” Hamisi said during an interview with journalists.
The group chairperson said during the high season of tourists, they make up to Sh20,000 per day and around Sh15,000 every week during the low season.
Hamisi said the group is using the money they make out of their business to give small loans of between Sh5,000 and Sh15,000 to their members to boost their businesses.
Group members say they now enjoy their marriages as they have become helpful to their husbands in paying bills and bringing food to the table.
“Our lives were down. You know, we are not educated but because of this project, the income earned here has lifted us. We are doing well. In fact, our husbands are proud of us. We help each other,” Bidii na Kazi group member Sidi Baya said.
The women also grow organic vegetables for sale, for daily consumption and for their restaurant.
A beekeeping group from Gede with 30 members has benefited from beehives and training from the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project. The women now earn an income to buy food for their families from the sale of honey.
Bush Beekeepers group, led by Irene Kaingu, produces honey which has helped improve the lives of members.
“This project has helped us. We did not harvest much because of bad weather but we are thankful since we were able to help our families. It helped us in terms of money. When we got the money we bought food and paid fees for our children,” she said.
Edited by A.N