For Nampaiyo Lepartingat, a mother of seven from Kalama Community Conservancy, Samburu County, life revolved around caring for her family and tending to the livestock they owned.
Due to the volatile nature of the livestock economy, often, Nampaiyo found herself relying solely on her husband’s income to meet their basic needs. Despite their best efforts, they struggled to make ends meet.
Nampaiyo’s financial situation turned the corner in 2019, when a friend familiarised her with BeadWORKS, a handicraft business run by MashinaniWORKS, that harnesses the rich beading tradition of the women of northern Kenya to create economic opportunities for pastoralist women in the region. Her hope reignited by the prospect of earning additional income without leaving her home or livestock unattended, Nampaiyo eagerly joined a BeadWORKS women’s beading group in Kalama Community Conservancy. In no time, Nampaiyo’s diligence, innate leadership skills, and talent in creating beautiful pieces shone through, and she was recognised as a Star Beader.
As one of 110 Star Beaders, Nampaiyo supervises a group of beaders and provides support and direction to group members. Through BeadWORKS’ support and training initiatives, Nampaiyo honed her beading skills and gained an understanding of financial management and entrepreneurship. With support and training from BeadWORKS, Nampaiyo’s beading acumen increased and she acquired entrepreneurship and money management skills. She also gained knowledge in savings and credit management through training provided by Rangelands Sacco. This newfound expertise enabled Nampaiyo to expand her livestock business to include chicken-rearing, which she has been greatly successful at. Additionally, she has opened a shop that provides mobile money services, further increasing her income streams.
With earnings from her businesses, Nampaiyo has built a modern house for her family, replacing the traditional grass thatched hut that she and her family called home for years, and improving their living conditions. The house has electricity installed, making it easier for Nampaiyo’s children to study in the evenings.
Since its inception in 2015, BeadWORKS has transformed the lives of 1,200 pastoralist women in northern Kenya. For Nampaiyo and the other women engaged in BeadWORKS, the Programme is a lifeline that not only empowers them, but also provides access to local and international markets, driving their economic growth.