Livestock as a Business Yearly Program Groups


Since 2011, Water is Life Kenya has been training indigenous groups to be more productive livestock keepers. (Click on the table to enlarge it. The groups marked with asterisk come from areas served by Water is Life Kenya water projects.)
LAB Field Trips:
We take our advanced LAB groups (2nd – 4th year groups) on and annual field trip to show them how Kenyan livestock farmers are doing their livestock business.  Click here to learn more.

Groups starting in 2020

Highlights: Two very strong women’s groups from very different areas emerged this year. Since both groups live in remote areas, the WILK training team travels long distances for training. But we knew when we arrived, we would meet them strong, alert and energetic to start the training. It has been a pleasure to have them in the program. They have also enjoyed meeting each other and comparing differences and similarities in their life experiences. Since they come from far corners, they met for the first time at WILK trainings.

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Picture
WILK Co-Founders Joyce and and Joseph Larasha (far right) celebrate with first year group, Loonkishu Elerai Men's Group, as they win "Highest Overall Net Profit" prize in the 2019-2020 loan cycle.
Groups starting in 2019

Highlights: These groups had the highest profit we have ever seen.  First, all repaid the loan. Then, we have 4 groups who made more than $2000 net profit (on a $2000 loan). Two groups  made between $1000 and $1999, and the remaining 4 groups each made between $500 and $999. These extraordinary results are a result of hard work by our groups and the good luck of a) good pasture b) corona virus causing some markets to be closed, so it was a sellers' market!
 
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Groups starting in 2018

Highlights: We celebrated the first LAB graduation ceremony for 4th year groups in November. We welcomed donors visiting from the US, community members and community leaders. It was a powerful witness to the achievements of the graduating groups who showed that had applied improved livestock keeping practices. We awarded prizes of breeding rams to the 2 graduating groups: Amboseli Ilmarba Livestock Keepers, and Oshumu Livestock Keepers.  

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Groups starting in 2017

Highlights – Successful field trip - traveled with advanced groups to several ranches in Kiserian and Karen, near Nairobi. Groups raved about the goods breeds of cattle they saw, the big hay storage barn and hay harvesting machines. They were amazed at the healthy, energetic calves they saw at Njuguna’s Ranch, which benefited from the intensive fattening program Mr. Njuguna has developed.   

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Groups starting in 2016

Highlights: Naretoi Enkishumu Women Group – the second group from Lenkisem, the 17 members are following in the footsteps of the successful Enkishaiki Lenkisem Women Group. Their strong leadership and cooperation as a group give good   indication of success to come, as well as a few members who are also in Enkishaiki Group, who didn’t want to miss the chance to reinforce important lessons!

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Groups starting in 2015

Highlights: Ilaramatak Olepolos Self Help Group –  WILK’s borehole project in Olepolos provided ample clean water for livestock keepers to start focusing on better practices. Olepolos group of 14 women and men wanted to take advantage of WILK’s LAB program to add another layer of knowledge to boost family incomes.
Groups starting in 2014

Highlights:Iltuati Livestock Farmers Self Help Group– a group of 16 young men from age 16-26 based around Ilmarba, also attracted to join by strength of Ilmarba group’s example. They are led by the chief of the warriors, the first chief of warriors in the area to have graduated from high school. It is traditional at the inauguration ceremony of chief to give a gift. When Larasha, WILK project manager, presented his gift to the new chief, he told him – “it’s not money, because that can be used up, it’s not food, because that can be eaten, but the gift of knowledge. Form a group of interested warriors and we can train you and your group in better ways of keeping your livestock.”
Groups starting in 2013

Highlights: Pakiteng Livestock Keepers –Pakiteng is a name for somebody who gives somebody else a cow.  So, if I give you a cow, you’ll call me Pakiteng as a way to remember the generosity of my gift, and our friendship will be cemented!  This group from Olgulului started in 2012 and was trained but did not meet the eligibility requirements for a loan in 2013.  One of the keys to success for the Livestock as Business project is to ensure that only groups who have committed themselves to change receive loans.  This is part of the reason why we’ve never had a loan that wasn’t repaid.
Groups starting in 2012

 Highlights: Oltukai Orok Women Livestock Keepers - from Enkong'u Narok, also known as cultural village number 4 in Amboseli.  Ol Tukai Orok means the black (or dark) palm trees, referring to trees that grow in Amboseli National Park and the group has 14 group members.  In their first year, Ol Tukai Orok bought 11 cattle for an average of $225 each and sold them for an average of $310.  After expenses,  the group realized a 24% profit on their animals.

Pilot program starting in 2011

Highlights: Amboseli Ilmarba Group – Ilmarba is a smaller group, with only 10 members.  The Ilmarba community is close to the Tanzanian border, where WILK rehabilitated the community borehole.  Ilmarba is the most senior group in LAB program,  acting as mentor to the newer groups, teaching, sharing their experiences and expertise in good husbandry and good livestock selection. They also introduced an innovation we call “Cows on Layaway”, which allows people to select a Ilmbarba group cow as soon as it arrives home from the market, and start paying for it in installments. This has given folks with less cash the chance to build up their herds (the main asset in the Maasailand).