Women from pastoralists communities are poised to benefit from a partnership between Mastercard International and Ushanga Kenya Initiative, an initiative established to create jobs in the communities.
In a statement on Tuesday, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria announced that a deal between the two entities was imminent in a collaboration aimed at driving economic empowerment among women in Kenya.
According to Kuria, the government is keen on leveraging Mastercard’s global marketplace to help Ushanga products reach the global market.
The move, Kuria noted, will help to drive socio-economic change among the pastoralists’ communities.
“Leveraging Mastercard’s global marketplace we will position Ushanga products from a trade perspective to reach the global market and drive an impactful and inclusive ecosystem for the underserved community,” Kuria noted in a statement.
The Ushanga Kenya initiative is a state corporation that seeks to strengthen the business and production capacity of women and youth.
At the same time, the corporation seeks to improve the competitiveness of bead products in local, regional, and international markets for sustainable livelihoods.
Women drawn from the communities take part in activities including producing bead products which are in turn sold.
Also Read: Fighting in Meru is a Hobby-Moses Kuria
Additionally, the initiative seeks to protect the intellectual property of beadwork communities.
In the statement, Kuria noted that the initiative aligns with Kenya Kwanza’s resolve to uplift the lives of Kenyans through the bottom-up model.
Ushanga Kenya Initiative Launch
The program was launched by the government in June 2022 to help women from seven pastoralists’ communities sell their beadwork products with ease.
The seven counties include: Narok, Kajiado, West Pokot, Turkana, Laikipia, Samburu and Baringo. Each of the counties have their own unique style of making the beads.
Earlier this year in April, the CS Peninah Malonza formed a 14 Member Committee to help establish the Ushanga Initiative to a state corporation that would protect the products and ensure that the prices are well monitored.
Also Read: Divided Cabinet: Moses Kuria, Linturi Lock Horns Over Tour
The Ushanga Initiative would ensure that beadwork by various Kenyan women is protected both locally and internationally while also ensuring the promotion of Kenyan Cultural Heritageand empowerment of women through entrepreneurship.
“The initiative will see communities absorbed into tourism value chain while also addressing leakages in tourism avenue,” CS Malonza said.
Women in Beadwork
Beadwork is the art of connecting beads by stringing them onto thread or tiny wire or sewing them to cloth. They differ in terms of the materials, form, and size used to make them.
Beautiful accessories are not only used to make money but have a cultural meaning that proves that one is well versed with the culture.
Most of the items made for sale include earrings, bracelets, breast plates, rings, and belts. The beads are also used to decorate clothes, swords, shoes, among others.
