Category: Entrepreneurship

Leadership in Business and Conservation – The Story of Pauline Lolngojine

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Recently, women in northern Kenya have emerged as key decision-makers in their communities. They now hold leadership positions and have gained control over benefits, which has resulted in their full participation in the economy as market actors.

Pauline Nduraa Lolngojine is a 47-year-old mother of five from Archers Post in Samburu County, whose story embodies resilience, community impact, and empowerment. Married off at a young age, her education was abruptly cut short in Form 3. However, Pauline chose not to despair. Undeterred by the following hardships, she seized an opportunity during the construction of the Isiolo-Moyale highway to start preparing and hawking meals for the workers. This marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial venture, and she soon expanded to selling groceries by the roadside.

Pauline addresses women during the Marsabit women’s caucus.

As a member of the Sera Community Conservancy, Pauline’s conservation efforts earned her a position on the board, where she later became the tourism chairperson, breaking barriers as the only female in this role. Her journey continued as she was re-elected as the Conservancy’s Chairperson, solidifying her position as a powerful voice for women.

In 2018, Pauline joined Rangelands Savings and Credit Cooperative (Rangelands SACCO), an independent, community-owned, and membership-driven financial organization. Elected as the chairperson, she embraced the training and guidance provided by the SACCO to become a star entrepreneur. Through Rangelands SACCO, Pauline received loans that she strategically invested to catalyze the growth of her businesses. The entrepreneurial and financial literacy training, including business planning, customer service, marketing and branding, managing profits and losses, costing, and pricing, equipped her with the skills to manage every aspect of her enterprises.

Being among over 6,000 members, the impact of Rangelands SACCO on Pauline’s life is evident from an initial loan of KES 30,000 to her latest loan of KES 900,000. She secured her children’s education and a plot for her restaurant and invested in equipment and materials, elevating the quality of her services. The loans met her progressive targets and positioned her in a better place.

Pauline provides outside catering services at Uaso Girls to children on an educational trip.

Her entrepreneurial journey saw her venture into diverse fields, from groceries by the roadside to outside catering services and a Choma Zone (roast meat) restaurant that will serve travelers along Archers Post.

In the Annual Delegates Meetings held on 26th April 2023 and 7th March 2024, she was celebrated as the best borrower in 2022 and 2023, respectively. “The awards motivate me to keep achieving my goals in the Sacco and being a role model by uplifting others through giving them advice and showing them my best practices,” says Pauline. Her journey with Rangelands SACCO is not just about financial gains; it’s about inspiring and uplifting an entire community, creating a ripple effect of positive change. Pauline has become an employer, creating job opportunities and contributing to the economic growth of her community.

Pauline receives her certificate as the Best Borrower in 2023 during the Rangelands SACCO Annual Delegates Meeting held on 7th March 2024
Pauline receives her certificate as the Best Borrower in 2022 during the Rangelands SACCO Annual Delegates Meeting held on 26th April 2023

As Pauline envisions securing plots for accommodation facilities and campsites, her dreams extend beyond personal success. She aims to contribute to the growth of the local economy and leave an indelible mark on the community that she holds dear.

Wheels of Change: Building Futures through Ujuzi Manyattani

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Early last year, NRT Trading Ujuzi Manyattani held a graduation ceremony that marked a significant milestone for 337 women and youth from NRT member Community Conservancies of Nakuprat-Gotu, Nasuulu, Ltungai, Shurr, Jaldesa, and Songa in Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit Counties. These graduates had completed various vocational courses with the support of the USAID Local Works program, the Royal Danish Embassy, the Embassy of Sweden through the IMARA project, IUCN Save our Species co-funded by the European Union, The Nature Conservancy, and Northern Rangelands Trust.

Among the graduates was John Galwersi, a young man from Karare, Songa Conservancy, Marsabit County. Before joining Ujuzi Manyattani, John worked as a boda-boda operator, braving the elements to sustain himself and his family. However, long hours on the motorcycle began taking a toll on his health, leading him to seek alternatives. Fortunately, through the Songa Community Conservancy management, he learned about a vocational training program targeting women and youth from indigenous communities with marketable skills to diversify livelihoods and encourage entrepreneurship.

John receives start-up toolkits during the Ujuzi Manyattani graduation on April 6th, 2022

John enrolled in the motorcycle repair and maintenance course, envisioning it as an educational pursuit and the foundation for a future business. However, after completing his training and graduating, he struggled to secure a job but remained persistent. With the start-up toolkits he received during graduation, he put them to work and undertook a couple of attachment opportunities with skilled mechanics to increase his grip in repairing motorcycles. He occasionally searched for employment opportunities and set aside some modest earnings.

To fill a crucial gap in his community’s need for motorcycle repair services, John used his savings of KES 5,000 to establish an auto spares and motorcycle repair shop. He stocked it with essential items for motorbikes, such as engine oil, side mirrors, brake pads, and tubes. John would conduct tests on different motorcycle models and repair various motorcycle systems, including engines, transmissions, and brakes.

John’s journey didn’t stop with technical expertise. Biashara Mashinani provided him with tailored entrepreneurial and financial literacy training in business planning, analysis, risk management, branding, customer service, and record keeping. This comprehensive training paved the way for John to run a successful business and expand his services.

John repairs a tricycle outside his auto spares and motorcycle repair shop.

From his business dubbed “Johntes Auto Spares and Motorcycle Repair, John earns a daily income of between KES 1,000 and 5,000 and has also created job opportunities for other young individuals in his community. His mobile services also cater to customers who face challenges traveling to Karare town, contributing positively to the community’s convenience.

John has encountered some difficulties in his business journey. He has lost quite a lot of money to customers who promised to pay back the money after repair but disappeared without fulfilling their promise, resulting in significant losses. Additionally, since he often orders materials from other towns, they sometimes arrive damaged, forcing him to order new ones and incur unexpected expenses. These setbacks, however, have not deterred him.

From owning a box of tools to having a fully stocked auto spares shop, John’s decision to be self-employed was the best he could have made. He now runs his business smoothly while growing his skill set and knowledge, monitoring all the profits and losses, choosing what to outsource to others, and being his own boss!

John advises other young women and men to acquire skills and enroll in programs like Ujuzi Manyattani, which offers vocational skills to address market gaps and boost and diversify the livelihoods of women and youth without disrupting their normal ways of life.

John is among the 88% of Ujuzi Manyattani graduates who have embarked on self-employment through setting up their businesses, hence earning an income to secure their livelihoods.

Balancing Chalk and Coins: The Teacher-Entrepreneur’s Journey with Biashara Mashinani

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Biashara Mashinani develops the capacity of men and women at the grassroots to start and manage enterprises to diversify household income and increase economic resilience.

Through the Northern Rangelands Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (NR SACCO), a community-owned and membership-driven financial organization, financial inclusion is promoted by giving members access to various tailor-made financial services, including savings accounts, affordable loans, business coaching, and investment opportunities.

Over the last six years, the NR SACCO has disbursed over 186 million shillings in loans to its members. Among the 3,594 women beneficiaries is Tunu Farhiya Choya, a resident of Karare, Songa Conservancy in Marsabit County, whose life has been significantly changed.

As an employed Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teacher at Karare Primary School, schoolwork typically ends early, and she hardly found constructive tasks to keep her busy for the rest of the day. In 2020, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to school closures, Tunu was confined to her home idle, besides house duties.

Adding to her woes was a series of salary delays that left her in a tight financial spot. As a widow with two children, this was incredibly challenging. As the months passed and her bills piled up, she realized that depending solely on her job was no longer sustainable. Frustrated by the uncertainty of when her next paycheck would arrive, she decided to take matters into her own hands, turning her free time into income.

In September, the 42-year-old rented and stocked a retail shop at the Karare market center with her savings of 15,000 shillings. The reduced competition triggered the idea, but most importantly, to offer access to necessities to the residents. Before a return to normalcy, she dedicated her full attention to her business, intending to earn extra income to care for her family. On school days, her cousin runs the store during the day, while she takes over in the afternoon after school.

In 2021, Tunu learned of the NRT Trading Biashara Mashinani program through the conservancy management. Tunu eagerly seized this opportunity and embarked on a three-day intensive entrepreneurship and financial literacy training on business planning. With unwavering determination, she incorporated the knowledge from this training into her retail business and was inspired to join Sacco to start saving. Her dedication paid off as, after disciplined savings with NR SACCO, Tunu became eligible for her first loan of 25,000 shillings.

This loan came at a crucial juncture as a prolonged drought devastated the region, leading to a dire shortage of rainfall, which greatly affected the livelihoods of the indigenous people in northern Kenya. Before NR SACCO’s intervention, Tunu, like many others in her community, had grappled with a sense of hopelessness. However, she used the loan wisely, allocating funds towards her children’s school fees, investing in her business, and securing a portion for savings.

Tunu expresses her gratitude, “Being a member of the Sacco has helped me a lot despite having come from a drought season whereby I experienced highs and lows. I have used the money to stock my shop with household commodities, foods, and cereals. I look forward to receiving more loans to expand my business.”

Tunu happily serves a customer at her shop.

Today, Tunu runs her shop with a positive outlook, aiming to achieve daily profitability. On her best days, she garners up to 3,000 shillings; on others, she still manages to earn at least 500 on a bad day.

She acknowledges NRT Trading for nurturing her entrepreneurial skills and fostering her financial growth, enabling her to run a thriving business that sustains her family and contributes to the betterment of her community.

Sketching Idea into Livelihood – Batuli’s Journey to Self-reliance

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Faza Village on Pate Island, nestled within the breathtaking Lamu archipelago, we meet Batuli Bwanakombo, a 23-year-old in her mini boutique sorting out a new stock of clothes, choosing which ones are best and most attractive for display with the help of her husband.

Batuli’s story is one of resilience, borne from her mother’s valiant struggle to provide for their family’s needs while balancing the weight of her school tuition. Despite completing her primary education, Batuli’s academic performance fell below expectations, dashing her dreams of pursuing higher learning. Hope seemed lost as Batuli found herself confined to the walls of her home, assisting her mother with household chores. However, destiny had other plans. A suitor arrived at their doorstep, seeking Batuli’s hand in marriage, and she accepted. Yet, the union failed to alter her circumstances; instead, it blessed her with motherhood but no means of income.

Batuli’s desire to improve her financial situation led her to seek business training from NRT Trading Biashara Mashinani on business idea generation and life skills. Through this training, Batuli acquired the knowledge and insights to navigate the intricacies of running a successful business. Determined to change their fortune, Batuli engaged her husband in an earnest discussion, sketching ideas to generate income. A gleam of inspiration emerged as they envisioned a retail clothing business, and they embraced this idea wholeheartedly. With newfound confidence and a solid foundation in business practices, they acquired a humble abode and adorned it with a dazzling collection of stylish, brand-new garments suitable for all genders.

In 2021, Batuli was among the beneficiaries from Pate to receive a loan of 25,000 shillings from the Northern Rangelands Sacco (NR Sacco) through its Biashara Mashinani program. Through hard work and diligence, she promptly repaid the loan and was awarded an additional 50,000 shillings, which she invested in expanding her business and diversifying her stock. Batuli’s boutique became a beacon of fashion for men seeking trousers, shirts, and shoes, particularly during festive occasions, where she could earn a remarkable 5,000 shillings daily. She consistently garners a respectable income of approximately 1,200 shillings on regular days.

The transformative power of Biashara Mashinani’s business training breathed new life into Batuli’s entrepreneurial journey, profoundly influencing her boutique’s success. Grateful for the knowledge gained, she humbly acknowledges her growth and evolution, “I have gained valuable knowledge from NRT Trading on how to make my business thrive. I have been putting aside funds for unforeseen circumstances and expansion, being more courteous to my customers, and organizing my collections more effectively. Additionally, I have made a conscious effort to maintain a high level of cleanliness in my store, which has become an additional boon, enhancing my reputation and attracting more customers,” Batuli explains.

She is thankful to NRT Trading for the financial support and invaluable skills training propelling her business to new heights. Buoyed by this encouragement, she eagerly envisions the future, setting her sights on establishing a wholesale shop serving people locally and beyond.

With the conservation efforts of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in the coastal region of Kenya like Lamu, a balance has been fostered between environmental conservation and sustainable economic development by creating opportunities for individuals like Batuli to pursue their dreams, contribute to the local economy, and inspire others to believe in their potential.

Batuli is a testament to the indomitable spirit of an aspiring entrepreneur who, against all odds, triumphed over adversity and carved her path to success. Her story echoes through the island, inspiring others to believe in their dreams and seize opportunities in wait.