By Issa Hussein - Reporter
May 19, 2026 - Isiolo County has partnered with development organisation Impact to roll out a major economic empowerment programme targeting women in pastoral communities across northern Kenya.
The Women’s Economic Empowerment and Resilience in Pastoral Systems (WEE RESP) project will be implemented in Isiolo, Samburu, Marsabit and Laikipia counties, with a focus on improving livelihoods and strengthening resilience against climate shocks.
The programme is expected to directly benefit more than 30,000 women and indirectly impact over 118,000 people through increased household incomes and improved access to markets.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting on the project’s implementation, Isiolo County Executive Committee Member for Tourism and Trade Lawrence Mwongela said the initiative would help transform livelihoods among vulnerable communities.
“The project is expected to deliver substantial benefits to vulnerable women within our communities, significantly elevating their incomes and fostering long-term financial independence,” Mr Mwongela said.
County Executive Committee Member for Water and Climate Change Guracha Kikuyu Sarite said the project comes at a critical time as pastoral communities continue to grapple with prolonged drought and climate-related challenges.
“We welcome the implementation of this project in Isiolo. We anticipate that it will play a vital role in alleviating the suffering caused by climate change — adverse effects that have disproportionately impacted women,” Mr Sarite said.
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The project will primarily focus on strengthening women’s participation in the goat milk value chain, a key economic activity across pastoral areas in northern Kenya.
Under the first phase, stakeholders will conduct rural assessments, market surveys and mapping exercises to identify barriers limiting women’s participation in trade and economic activities.
The second phase will involve the formation of women’s cooperatives, improvement of goat milk processing facilities, establishment of cold-chain systems, expansion of veterinary services and linking producers to commercial markets.
Officials said the programme will also integrate training on nutrition, financial inclusion and land rights to promote long-term sustainability and economic independence for women in the ASAL region.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to support climate-resilient livelihoods in northern Kenya, where recurring droughts have continued to threaten pastoral economies and deepen poverty among vulnerable households.