Samburu women go against the grain to fend for their families

Mrs Lucy Lenasalan in Maralal town at work. Photo/PAUL LETIWA

Mrs Lucy Lenasalan, 54, sits under a make-shift shed beside a small storehouse in Maralal town. She chats and laugh with other women, as they sew beads onto leather bracelets and wire ornaments. They are all donned in beaded jewellery and dressed in colourful Samburu regalia.

Over the years, life for Mrs Lenasalan and other women in Samburuland of Northern Kenya, has been very challenging. Women have always been viewed as property of their husbands and have had no rights over anything. Besides, they have never earned an income or owned property.

Household duties like fetching water and firewood, caring for their children, building and maintaining their homes, tending to livestock, and cooking is what the women were meant to do.

However, this way of life is slowly taking a new twist as many women in Samburu are turning to income generating activities to support their families. Most of them are now shifting from villages to trading centres to sell beads, shukas and other traditional regalia.

Mrs Lenasalan and four other women are members of little known Naboisho Group, which was started several years ago through her efforts, aimed at alleviating poverty among Samburu women and in the community.

“Naboisho in Samburu means unity. We formed this group to do our beadwork and we are now able to sell them and get money that we never had before. We used to depend on our husbands for food but we now have something that belongs to us. Besides earning an income, we are also able to own property,” said Mrs Lenasalan.

Essential role

Among the Samburu, beadwork plays an essential role in the ornamentation of the body. Beading patterns are determined by each age-set. Young men, who often cover their bodies in ocher to enhance their appearance, are the frequent customers of Naboisho women’s group.

And given that few of the women in the area have any formal education, their skills in making colourful beaded necklaces, earrings and other jewellery have enabled them earn stable incomes through the creation of beautiful beadwork.

“I now own a number of livestock and a piece of land. This affords me some financial independence and freedom to manage my own resources. We are still encouraging other women to join our group,” says Mrs Lenasalan who has been in the business independently for over 20 years.

Beauty for Samburu women, means pounds of beads ringed gracefully around the neck, carefully bent tin bracelets and anklets that bind the appendages in flashes of silver, and a wrap of cloth tied at the shoulder. There are many variations on colour and patterns of beadwork that have made their businesses a one stop-shop for tourists.

“Whenever tourists visit Samburu, our income increases since they purchase our beads and other traditional ornaments in large quantities. They also love and admire our culture. But they have stopped visiting since the 2007 election violence, which has affected our businesses,” says Ms Maliyan Letiwa, a member of the group.

Its through this group formed in 1999, that members borrow loans from each other and repay back at a given period of time.

“As a group, we have been through numerous problems, but have been able to sustain our membership to help each other in times of need. We offer loans to our members through monthly contributions and ensure that everyone has a business bank account,” says Mrs Lenalasan.

According to members we interviewed, drought is a major draw back to their business.

The absence of rainfall places a great challenge on the community, as there is insufficient grazing pasture and water. To search for better pasture and water resources, many communities are forced to migrate during drought.

Migration also carries associated difficulties such as leaving established businesses, and resettling in a location which may also prove unfavourable.

Transportation and accessibility are also a major concern.

Training

Since public transport does not reach most parts of Samburu, women are forced to walk for more than two days to reach the nearest town for foodstuffs, health services, and to attend workshops and training.

Also due to its remote location, there is no consistent flow of tourists to the area, making any income generated from beadwork minimal and unreliable. But the women can still do their beadwork despite the harsh conditions.

“When there is drought we hardly have time to sell our beads because we are nomadic families. This forces us to carry the beads from place to place until the famine is over, then we get back to our permanent homes and continue with our businesses,” adds Mrs Lenasalan.

Within the Samburu economy, livestock serves as currency. When community members lose their investment in livestock holdings, they lose their economic security. Exacerbating their difficulties, tourists, who provide the much needed revenue, tend to visit less during drought. During the long periods of drought most families and communities lose almost all their resources. At the end of a drought, people are left with almost nothing and are forced to rebuild their lives.

Like several other women in such business, Mrs Lenasalan is used to the challenges. After work, she heads home and begins house chores. With the money she earns she is able to better support her family. Despite the hardship most women who were jobless before they started their businesses, can now earn an income that is improving their standards of living.

“We urge the Government and NGOs to assist us in marketing our products to foreign countries like what has been done to several other groups like ours. If we get support for our work, poverty will reduce and the future of our children will be full of hope,” she says.