By Job Weru

KENYA: More than 200 community self-help groups in the Upper Tana Catchment have received Sh135 million from the Livelihood’s Support Project, under the World Bank.

The cheques were distributed to 223 community groups, which engage in income-generating projects aimed at mitigating conservation and environmental improvement activities. The funds were channelled through the Natural Resource Management Programme (NRM), and yesterday’s grants brought to Sh713 million, the amount disbursed to communities in the region.

Mr Daniel Rotich, the NRM Livelihoods’ Project Manager said more than 600 groups have benefitted from the programme in three years.

The programme supports farmers improve their socio-economic wellbeing to have them ease pressure on natural resources and, therefore, conserve the water catchment areas. 

Assistance to farmers

The farmers, who work closely with the Water Resources Management Authority and the Kenya Forest Service, have been assisted in starting and improving poultry, dairy, agro-forestry and dairy projects.

Rotich said the project has seen a high success rate since its inception three years ago, saying successful annual audits by the donor have given the project an 87 per cent approval rating.

“The successful implementation of the project has inspired confidence in the donor who has increased the number of groups funded from the initial 69 in 2010 to 222 last year and 226 this year,” Rotich said, when he handed out cheques to the groups from Nyeri County at Karatina Stadium, on Saturday.

Other groups that have benefitted from the project are in Machakos, Kiambu, Murang’a and Nyandarua counties. Mathira East DC Godfrey Kigochi urged the groups to seek technical advice from their local government officers, saying the projects would transform livelihoods.

Mr Daniel Maina Karianjahi, the Treasurer of Milk Dairy Self Help Group, said the grant of Sh1.099 million would help upgrade their milk business. They expect to add value from the 6,000 to 7,000 litres they buy from their neighbours daily.

“We have been selling some excess milk to New KCC while the rest is sold through our kiosks after buying it from farmers at Sh30.40. This grant will enable us to pasteurise the milk and make yoghurt that will fetch better money for our members,” Karianjahi added.

Rotich said a new component of the project is the biogas development for schools that is helping the institutions reduce their wood fuel consumption.