More and more youth from pastoral areas in Kenya are accessing technical courses aimed at enabling them to leave livestock-dependent livelihoods under the Ujuzi Manyattani initiative. The Northern Rangeland Trust started the program five years ago, where over 1,300 people were given the chance to acquire technical skills that have since greatly impacted their lives as well as their communities.
The Ujuzi Manyattani Initiative
Background and Impact
The Ujuzi Manyattani initiative aims at equipping youths from pastoral areas with practical skills, most of them whom were denied a chance for formal education. This involves training in trades like mechanical engineering, hairdressing, plumbing, barbering, tailoring, masonry, and electrical works. Through this particular training courses, the initiative tries to change their main source of livelihood dependency from livestock—susceptible to cattle rustling and drought—to other alternative sources percieved to be more stable and encouraging development..
Achievements and Goals
Currently, the programme has so far trained 1,300 youth with a set target of achieving 10,000 graduates soon. During a recent graduation by the program in Doldol, Laikipia County, where about 200 youths graduated, NRT chief executive Tom Lalampaa underscored the milestones achieved so far by the program and its future targets.
“We’ve so far trained about 1,300 youths and we envision to have at least 10,000 graduates spanning across Arid and Semi-Arid Lands,” said Mr. Lalampaa. He appealed for continued support from its partners to enable the institution to attain that feat, stating that such efforts would improve immensely the economy of Northern Kenya and Coastal areas.
Support and Collaboration
Government and International Support
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, lauded the initiative with its myriad of benefits extended to the graduates and their communities. He hoped the acquired skills would benefit families and communities of the graduates and be an example to others.
Ms. Silvia Museiya, Wildlife PS, emphasized the commitment by the government to such youth-led initiatives. She singled out opportunities in the rearing of honey bees and processing, whose production she said can be scaled up to meet the high demand for honey products in the country.
The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development PS, Harsama Kello, aligned the initiative with the government’s agenda of youth empowerment. He encouraged the guys to move away from cattle rustling that has been historical in the region.
Local Government and Community Leaders
Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere congratulated the move, pointing out that it proved to the world that pastoralist communities could equally use their potential in other skills other than livestock rearing. She encouraged school dropouts to grab chances availed by the government through technical and vocational training institutions.
Personal Stories and Testimonials
It is the story of Peter Lerapat, a young man from Laikipia North who graduated in hairdressing and beauty. He could not join college after completion of high school due to financial problems. Acquiring these skills courtesy of Ujuzi Manyattani has made him able to earn money to save up for his continued studies.
“I chose this course because after secondary school, the fees were too high for me to continue, as my parents had other siblings in school needing support. Now, I can save enough to join college,” explained Lerapat. He emphasized that this opportunity was far better than pastoralism, where he gets no regular income.
Many others were optimistic about starting their own businesses or self-employment after picking up the skills. The startup kits provided included shaving machines, motorcycle repair kits, cake baking machines, among others, to help the graduates get started.