Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Addresses FCA Kenya Creative Industries Students at Makueni Tech & Innovation Hub
Makueni governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. interacting with FCA’s Creative Industries students at Makueni Tech & Innovation Hub in Wote.
Makueni governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. recently engaged with students from FCA Kenya’s Creative Industries program at the Makueni Tech & Innovation Hub in Wote, emphasizing the crucial role of digital platforms in fostering entrepreneurship and providing sustainable career paths for young people.
During the interactive session, Governor Kilonzo highlighted the transformative potential of digital platforms in driving innovation and economic prosperity. “Opening up every avenue, particularly the Internet, is crucial for empowering our youth to showcase their talents and build viable careers,” he emphasised
Alice Wambui, Head of the Innovation Hub, commended the governor’s initiative and urged young participants to seize opportunities provided by the facility. “Youth are well aware of the challenges we face. I encourage them to create their own platforms and become solution-builders for accessing online work opportunities and securing employment,” she said.
Peter Njuguna, FCA Kenya’s project assistant, echoed the importance of initiatives like these in fostering skills development and preparing students for digital job markets. “The aim of our visit to the Makueni Tech & Innovation Hub was to provide practical exposure and networking opportunities, inspiring collaboration among FCA CI students for future employment prospects,” he stated.
Reflecting on the visit, Harry Owino, an FCA CI Web developer student, said, “Interacting with cutting-edge technology like 3D printers has significantly expanded my understanding of innovation.”
FCA Kenya and Macefoods Sign MoU to Boost Agribusiness in Rural Kenya
FCA Kenya Country Director John Bongei with CEO and founder of Macefoods, Mrs. Margaret Komen signing the MoU at the FCA office in Nairobi.
FCA Kenya and Macefoods, a leading agribusiness company working with farmers in rural Kenya, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the basis for mutual collaboration and enhance agribusiness in rural Kenya, focusing on economic and sustainable development. The signing ceremony took place on Monday, July 8th, at the FCA office in Nairobi.
Established in 2020, Macefoods is a unique private sector entity focusing mainly on the food business, particularly the pepper value chain for both domestic and export markets. The mutual agreement will allow Macefood to support over 300 women and youth with training in chili farming and other agricultural practices. This training will help ensure the quality of their produce, enabling access to global markets.
Macefoods supports the entire value chain, from production with certified seeds to training farmers and buying back the harvest for value addition and selling both domestically and internationally. Currently, they are importing raw materials like pepper from Tanzania and Malawi, highlighting the need for increased local production.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, CEO and founder of Macefoods, Mrs. Margaret Komen, said, “At Macefoods, our mission is to provide holistic support to achieve fair and rewarding relationships. Partnerships like this MoU with FCA Kenya are essential to enriching our economic environment and fostering collaboration. We have a great opportunity because we are currently importing raw materials from neighboring countries. Production in Kenya still does not meet demand, creating a ready market. We aim for 40% of our market to be in Kenya and 60% for export, showing huge potential for growth and expansion.”
She added, “Pepper farming is not labor-intensive except during harvesting; we will engage communities and young people in Kerio Valley, providing a steady income and improving livelihoods.
FCA Kenya Country Director John Bongei said this partnership presents a unique opportunity for farmers in Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and West Pokot to receive training, grow crops, and access a ready market, providing them a steady income and improving livelihoods.
Mr. Bongei added that this initiative is crucial for sustaining peacebuilding efforts in Kerio Valley by providing alternative livelihoods for women and youth. FCA Kenya’s holistic program aims to empower households, improve educational and nutritional outcomes, and create economic opportunities through private sector partnerships.
“We are on the right track by bringing in private sector partnerships to enhance economic empowerment for our vulnerable communities. This partnership will create a complete reward for farming as soon as the market is ready. It aligns with our livelihood component, aiming to grow enterprises and create more opportunities for farmers.”
FCA Kenya has a longstanding commitment to implementing strategic initiatives that enhance economic independence for women and youth in the Kerio Valley. These initiatives contribute to regional stability and conflict prevention. FCA has supported over 1,000 women in Kerio Valley with entrepreneurial start-up kits, including dairy goats, cows, beehives, chickens, seeds for crop farming, and tree seedlings.
Distributing menstrual hygiene kits to FCA schools in Turkana County. Photo credit: Winnie Onyango
Just last Tuesday, I was sitting in math class, feeling on top of the world. I’d aced my last quiz, and even the teacher had given me a nod of approval. But then, out of nowhere, came a sudden wave of discomfort. A sharp cramp twisted in my stomach, and I knew what was coming.
I tried to focus on the lesson, but it felt like my mind was somewhere else entirely. And then it happened—that dreaded moment every girl fears in school. I felt a warmth spreading, and before I knew it, there it was: a bright red stain, unmistakable against the fabric of my skirt.
At first, I was mortified. I wanted to sink into my chair and disappear. But as I sat there, feeling the eyes of my classmates on me, a fire ignited within. Why should I be ashamed of something so natural? Why should I hide away, like it’s something to be embarrassed about?
With a deep breath, I gathered my courage and stood up. I could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck, but I refused to let it consume me. “Yes, I have my period,” I declared, loud enough for everyone to hear. “And no, I’m not going to hide or feel ashamed about it.”
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the hum of the air conditioning. And then something incredible happened. Instead of snickers or whispers, I saw nods of understanding and even a few smiles of solidarity. It was as if my bravery had given them permission to break free from their own fears and insecurities and break the stigma surrounding menstruation.
As the world marked World Menstrual Hygiene Day yesterday, it shed light on an issue affecting millions of girls globally: menstrual health. Despite progress, the stigma surrounding menstruation still impedes girls’ education and well-being. It’s crucial to dismantle this taboo and establish an environment where girls can study comfortably, regardless of their menstrual cycles.
According to UNICEF, nearly half of Kenyan girls lack access to menstrual hygiene products. This deficit triggers a domino effect that can derail a girl’s education and future. Girls miss school, lag behind in their studies, and consequently face shrinking opportunities, plummeting confidence, and potential mental health issues.
FCA’s Efforts to Support Menstrual Health
A girl demonstrating how to use a sanitary pad to her peers in one of FCA schools
FCA, with funding from UNICEF, has been actively distributing menstrual hygiene kits to girls in five counties: Garissa, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, and West Pokot. By providing these kits, FCA ensures that no girl has to miss school because of her period. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote gender equality and quality education, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5.
To further support menstrual health and hygiene, FCA Kenya Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Duncan Kimuli stated that under the OOSC Project, which ended on December 31, 2023, a total of 10,228 children (4,397 boys and 5,831 girls), representing 170%, were reached through hygiene promotion, including Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools. Additionally, 9,806 girls, representing 123%, were reached with Menstrual Hygiene Management packages, including sanitary kits.
Under the ECW Project, which will end on October 30, 2024, 2,816 adolescent girls affected by conflict and/or crisis, representing 88% of the overall target of 3,200, received menstrual care kits and female hygiene kits in the four counties.
FCA has promoted gender-sensitive latrines for both boys and girls, including facilities for children with disabilities. They have supported the construction and rehabilitation of 35 sanitation facilities in schools, ensuring they meet national standards. Additionally, FCA has distributed portable handwashing facilities to schools without water connections and installed handwashing basins/tanks in schools with water connections. They continue to support hygiene promotion and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education in schools.
Need for Community and Government Engagement
To comprehensively address menstrual health, we must dismantle the stigma through education and open dialogue. Schools play a crucial role in implementing menstrual hygiene management programs. Governments must prioritize menstrual health by providing resources for menstrual hygiene products, clean sanitation facilities, and integrating menstrual health education into school curricula. Community engagement and awareness campaigns are essential to challenging cultural norms and dispelling myths about menstruation.
Text: Daisy Obare
Impact of Floods on FCA Activities
Nairobi-Kenya, 30 April 2024
FCA Kenya is on high alert and closely monitoring the flood crisis in Kenya, evaluating its internal capacity to respond and mitigate the effects of the ongoing disaster. The organization has alerted its in-country donors, including PRM, UNICEF, and UNHCR, about the potential emergency situation.
“The magnitude of this crisis is significant,” says John Bongei, FCA Kenya Country Director. “In 2019, FCA’s emergency response project assisted 2,302 learners and teachers affected by landslides in 5 West Pokot County schools. Heavy rains in late 2019 triggered floods and landslides in the region, exacerbating the situation due to inadequate emergency plans at national and county levels. Over 3,533 households were affected, with bridges washed away, amplifying the need for humanitarian aid.”
“Following the Ministry of Education’s decision to postpone the reopening of schools by one week, our schools in Dadaab and Kakuma will remain closed until May 6, 2024. This measure will help mitigate the risks to children traveling through flooded areas to reach schools in rural Kenya,” adds Bongei.
While FCA’s schools in Kalobeyei have not experienced significant issues, a section of the Future Primary School’s fence was damaged by the strong currents of water. FCA’s engineering team and contractors are unable to access project areas due to the flooding.
Nationally, over 100 people have reportedly lost their lives due to the flooding, with several others still missing. The floods have also caused extensive damage to schools in Nairobi and parts of northern Kenya.
“We urge caution and vigilance among our team members and the public,” emphasizes Bongei. “It is better to postpone events and avoid risks associated with the floodwaters.”
FCA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
For media inquiries, please contact Daisy Obare at daisy.obare@kua.fi or +254743206995.
End of Press Release
World Refugee Day: Learning, Healing and Shining together in Kenya
Together with other countries worldwide, Kenya celebrates World Refugee Day on June 20th to appreciate the lives of all displaced people scattered across the world.
KENYAHAS nearly half a million refugees, mainly from the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa region. Around 40 percent of the refugees live in Kakuma in Turkana County, one of the poorest counties in northern Kenya, and Finn Church Aid (FCA) offers humanitarian services to the displaced persons in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement.
This year’s celebration highlights the theme “Together we heal, learn and shine”. In the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic particularly disrupted the education and health sector. Learning was almost impossible because of the protocols put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Children have more space during classes thanks to tent structures that create more space at school.
Children have more space during classes thanks to tent structures that create more space at school.
“The school children relied on lessons broadcasted on radio, and this was helpful to the learners,” says Emmanuel Mr. Wamalwa, Headteacher of Future Primary School in Kalobeyei Settlement.
During the protracted crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is vital to ensure children still have access to education. FCA provides safe and inclusive quality pre-primary and primary education to 21,000 learners, 19,950 of them refugees. The reopening of schools has required new solutions to ensure that learners continue studying and observing the social distance protocol.
Before Covid-19, the classes at Future Primary School accommodated 130 learners per classroom. With funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland, the school received eight temporary tents to decongest classes and achieve the required distance between learners. One tent carries 36 desks.
“The tents are a relief to us as learners can keep social distance and maintain hygiene,” says Mr. Wamalwa.
In celebration of World Refugee Day, the school will arrange a sports event for the entire school where children can run, play ball games and recite poems. Playing together helps to ease the children’s minds from the demanding life of the refugee camp, and it builds unity among those displaced.
“Most of our learners are refugees, and we want to celebrate the day with them. We advise them to live one day at a time and be mindful about their mental wellbeing,” emphasizes Mr. Wamalwa.
Text: Elizabeth Oriedi Cover photo: Jari Kivelä
Fighting Period Poverty Leads to a Future of Confident and Educated Women
Monthly sanitary pad distributions at school prevent girls from missing classes or dropping out completely. Education about menstruation increases self-esteem.
WHEN HER monthly period comes, 16-year-old Michelina tears a pillow and picks out pieces of its worn stuffing – an old cloth rug that she uses in place of the sanitary pad she cannot afford. That is just the tip of the iceberg. The worst part is that Michelina, who lives in Kalobeyei refugee settlement, cannot talk to anyone about her periods.
Despite being a normal biological process, menstruation remains taboo. Many girls stay home from school during their periods, leaving them behind in their education. In class, girls say that their concern about leakages makes it harder for them to concentrate in class or dissuade them from participating in the first place. Even with sanitary pads or towels, Michelina says that finding a bathroom is an issue.
“Without safe, private places for cleaning and changing during our periods, we continue to struggle despite the supplies”, she says.
Working against period poverty is an integral part of Finn Church Aid’s (FCA) education support in the refugee settlements Kakuma and Kalobeyei. Distributions of sanitary pads have reached 5,000 adolescent girls since last year. Project officer Catherine Angwenyi says the program has supported girls in several other ways too.
FCA’s sanitary pads distribution couples with sexual and reproductive health education, and the program has reduced school absenteeism among the girls.
Catherine Angewenyi (in the middle) from FCA distributing sanitary pads at Kalobeyei refugee settlement. Photo: Loduye Ghaisen
“When parents do not take the time to talk to their girls on menstrual hygiene, the only way girls get information and support is through education programs that distribute pads,” Angweny explains.
Monthly sanitary pad distributions prevent girls from dropping out and keep them from asking for pads from men that can take advantage of them. When girls go to school, they are less likely to become pregnant or, for instance, get an HIV infection.
Angwenyi believes that by doing everything for girls to stay in school, we are heading to a future of fewer teenage pregnancies and more educated and confident women.
“When you educate a girl, you change the world,” she says.
Sanitary pad distributions are an integral part of FCA Kenya’s education program.
Nkurunziza, 16, says that learning about menstruation and hygiene practices has changed her attitude: she no longer stays home from school during her periods.
“Having pads increases my confidence and helps me focus on my studies, and I can even excel in exams”, she says.
Text: Elizabeth Oriedi Photos: Loduye Ghaisen
Women Taking the Lead in Ending the Conflict in Kerio Valley
The Northern Kenya Integrated Development project trains women in peacebuilding. Milka Rutonye explains how the women brought two conflicting communities together.
THREE YEARS AGO, Milka Rutonye had had enough. The mother of seven children grew up in Kenya’s Pokot area but married a man from the neighbouring Marakwet. Milka could no longer bear with the impact of conflicts between the two communities.
Political incitement, livestock theft and a scramble for water between the Pokot and Marakwet led to shootings, violence against women and disruptions in the children’s education. Milka was determined to leave her husband’s home, leaving her children behind, and return to her family in Pokot just to run away from the gunshots.
“I always felt terrible when the Pokot – my people – came to Marakwet and caused chaos,” she says. “They forget that their children, sisters and nieces are married to the Marakwet.”
In 2018, Milka spoke with bitterness and complained of the area’s insecurity and its impact on her life. She began taking part in talking circles for women from both of the conflicting communities. Through the platform created by Finn Church Aid (FCA), the 57 women found a common cause and took it upon themselves to change the narrative of insecurity in the Kerio Valley.
Today the talking circles connect women from the neighbouring communities of Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot. Issues, such as water scarcity and cattle theft, have sparked violence in this area of Kenya.
Milka Rutonye has participated in women’s talking circles since 2018.
Training gave birth to peacebuilding initiatives
The group calls itself Endo Chamkalya. It encourages women to be resilient in all aspects of life and actively create a just, peaceful, and equal society through formal and informal structures. Ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, Milka speaks from inspiration.
“I was touched to see that FCA, coming from outside our communities, was concerned about our well-being. The talking circles have opened our eyes to the causes of our conflict”, she says.
“Water scarcity contributed to the fighting because we wanted to ensure that our livestock gets food. The training has built our capacity to hear and understand each other.”
The Northern Kenya Integrated Development project arranges training in peacebuilding. The training gave birth to various initiatives that the women undertook to restore peace.
Milka recalls a significant event in 2018; a protest against violence. During a border conflict between Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot, the Endo women crossed over to the Pokot side when the conflict had practically restricted all movement across the border. They prayed for peace.
“We had mobilized the Pokot women that are married to Marakwet and decided that we will seek peace by all means. Our only way was to seek an audience with the Pokot,” she says.
The women of Marakwet and Pokot gathering in prayers for peace.
Women from the Pokot community met the women that Milka’s group had gathered. The women from the talking circle ended up meeting with 35 village elders of West Pokot. In two mediation meetings, the women spoke out about how they wanted their children to go to school without interruption, their animals to graze freely, and enjoy peace like any other part of Kenya.
Peacebuilding may start with as simple things as learning to express oneself to the other person. Milka says that the Pokot elders did not know that they were attacking their blood relatives, those that were married to the Marakwet. They regretted it, and some of them even cried.
More importantly, according to Milka, the story shows that anyone can find a moment like this and connect to it – and eventually, become a peacebuilder.
“We were able to influence the village elders of both Pokot and Marakwet to come together and discuss.”
Clearing the road improved livelihood opportunities
Since the peace negotiation led by the FCA talking circle, the situation between the two communities and the entire Kerio Valley has improved.
Benedicta, a moderator in Milka’s women’s talking circle, says that youth from both Pokot and Marakwet joined in clearing the nine-kilometer-long road connecting the two communities. The thick bush had provided hideouts for armed robbers, and there were also other physical obstacles that restricted movement. In the past, Benedicta witnessed two pregnant women die due to the impassable road.
“They were on their way to the district hospital, which is two hours away in normal conditions. The peace engagements have kept the road safe. Now, no one will die because of the road,” she says.
Marakwet and Pokot youth clearing the bush along the road connecting the two communities in Northern Kenya.
This road led to the opening of the Lodio market, an important centre for the communities’ livelihoods, and eased access to the health centre. According to Benedicta, it paved the way for people to trade and improve their living standard.
When Covid-19 restricted gatherings in the Kerio Valley, the women groups found creative ways to arrange peace meetings. Peace talks continued during the lockdown on radio channels, such as North Rift FM and Upendo FM Eldoret, with a substantial contribution from the women.
“The talking circles have empowered us women, and we are now committed to advocating for human rights and lead herders and the entire community to disarmament, development, livelihood and gender equality,” Milka adds.
