
The struggle for basic commodities like food, proper education for children and good clothing was evident in the family of Pastor Francis Kashu before World Vision introduced Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) project.
Even though he had a huge piece of land at Kanunka in Narok South Sub County, Pastor Kashu struggled for a decent life that he always desired. His dream was to give his wife and three children a balanced diet, good clothing, decent shelter and quality education for his children.
But for long, nothing much changed as every year, he would face similar challenges that made him almost give up on his dreams.
After the training by the World Vision on Empowered World View (EWV), he sat down with his wife and together they drew up an economic plan where they prioritised maize and dairy cows farming.
“In the training, we were taken through the longest line, where we learnt that we had great resources that if utilised well could boost our livelihood,”
In the first season, they put one acre under maize crop and got good returns that gave them enough capital to farm three acres of maize. From the profits they got from farming, they purchased a dairy cow that gave them more returns.
The two projects have enabled them to take their three children to boarding schools, buy decent clothes and afford a balanced diet on their plates.
More so, the training taught him the technique of ‘crossing the river’, where he learnt that he could help those struggling in the society to improve their livelihood. By this, he adapted 50 mentees he trained to use the resources around them to earn a living. He helped his mentees to develop an economic plan of their preferred income-generating activities.
“Most of my mentees are my church members and have adopted poultry keeping, dairy farming, maize and bean farming. I visit them often to encourage them as I assess their progress.
“Among my mentees is Mercy Karambu, who had a very poor life before the interventions. She would fight with her husband often for lack of basic commodities in the family.”
When we visited Mercy at home, a few metres from Pastor Kashu’s home, she was helping her husband to fix timber in a new house the couple is constructing. Mercy narrated how awful life was before Pastor Kashu approached her family to offer some insight on the new program he had learnt.
“The training opened my mind and I was able to utilise my one-acre to plant beans. In the first season, I harvested eight bags of beans which I sold and used the profit to buy iron sheets for my new house that we are constructing,” Mercy said.
The farming business has also helped Mercy to purchase 20 hens, where she sells eggs to the nearby community to buy foodstuff and other basic commodities. In the two projects, she said, they work with the husband, who has now become the closest friend. This is unlike before when quarrels and wrangles were common in the home, she adds.
About one kilometre from Pastor Kashu’s home, we land at the home of Dorcas Wanjiru, who is now a renowned poultry farmer in the area. Before Pastor Kashu introduced her to the EWV training, she reared a few chickens that were not well housed and brought zero returns to the family as many times they would lay eggs in the bushes.
“Pastor Kashu guided me on how I could improve on poultry farming to earn money. His teachings were very helpful as they opened my eyes to see how profitable poultry farming could be if well managed,” Wanjiru explained.
Her poultry farming venture was catalysed by her decision to join a savings group where she was able to access a loan of Ksh20, 000 that she used to construct a decent house for her birds.
After repaying the loan, she was given another Ksh15, 000 loan that she used to purchase 14 hens and poultry feeds. The hens have multiplied to 52 and her aspiration is to have over 200 by the end of this year.
“The poultry keeping venture has kept me busy. Apart from earning an income from the sale of eggs, my family enjoys a balanced diet. My husband has greatly supported my business and am grateful because of the family reunion that has come through the new venture,” she reiterated.
- A Tell Media / KNA report / By Ann Salaton
Pastor Francis Kashu at his maize farm in Kanunka area, Narok South Sub County
Pastor Francis Kashu (in brown coat) at the home of Mercy Karambu which he has been mentoring to grow financially.
Ms. Dorcas Wanjiru at her poultry farm in Kanunka area, Narok South Sub County.