By Keit Salile
Hellen Nasha is Leading Samburu’s Farming Revolution
In Logorate village, nestled within the vast, arid landscape of Samburu County, Hellen Nasha aged 46, tends to her farm, a striking contrast to the dusty plains surrounding it. Her 9.5-acre plot is teeming with life—lush rows of vegetables flourish under the semi-arid sun. Once a pastoralist relying on livestock like most of her Samburu community, Hellen is embracing farming to combat the devastating effects of climate change.
“I started farming when the droughts became too severe,” Hellen says, her voice filled with quiet determination. “The drought killed our livestock. I decided to try farming because I had access to a nearby water source which is a seasonal river. It was hard at first, but I knew I had to make it work for my children.”
Samburu, a county long defined by its reliance on livestock, is one of the hardest-hit regions in Kenya by climate change. According to Reliefweb, over nine million Kenyans are pastoralists out of a total population of 50 million and together they hold livestock worth over US$1 billion. Samburu is among these statistics, but the increasingly severe droughts have decimated livestock populations, leaving families without food or income. Hellen, like many women in her community, was left to fend for her family when her husband migrated with the surviving livestock in search of pasture.
Faced with mounting hardships, she turned to farming, a concept largely foreign in her pastoralist community. Using innovative methods such as organic manure and drought-resistant crops, she is n changing her barren land into a thriving farm.
“Now I grow vegetables and maize, even in dry seasons,” she says. “People from the neighboring villages come to buy from me. Farming has given me hope and a way to provide for my family.”
Hellen’s journey is part of a broader effort to diversify livelihoods in Samburu County, spearheaded by WWF Kenya and the Charitas Maralal Eco Parish initiative under the leadership of Collita Naenya, Head of the Department at Charitas Maralal. Globally, women make up 43% of the agricultural workforce, and in Kenya, the figure ranges between 42% and 65%. Despite their critical role in agriculture, women farmers face significant barriers, including limited access to land, training, and education, which hinder their productivity and potential.
But, through the program Strengthening Pastoralist Communities’ Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change, Charitas Maralal is empowering communities like Hellen’s to adapt to the harsh realities of a changing climate and sustainable farming.“Under this program, we’re focusing on diversifying livelihood options for pastoralist communities,” Naenya explains. “The climate in Samburu has traditionally supported pastoralism, but with unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts, we are introducing new ways to sustain livelihoods, like farming.”
Naenya’s team provides training on climate-smart farming techniques, such as drip irrigation, crop rotation, and the use of drought-resistant seeds. “We work with existing groups or form new ones, like the women’s group Hellen is part of,” she says. “Agronomists train them on sustainable practices, and we introduce crops like spinach, kale, and indigenous vegetables that are better suited to this climate.”
For women in Samburu, farming is more than a livelihood; it’s a lifeline. Traditionally, women have been heavily dependent on livestock, a resource controlled by men. During droughts, when the men migrate with cattle, women are often left with no source of food or income.
Hellen saw this struggle firsthand and made it her mission to help others. “I wanted to show other women that farming can work here,” she says. She now trains her neighbors on farming techniques, teaching them how to grow vegetables and manage water efficiently.
One of her trainees, Joyce, shares how the shift to farming has transformed her life. “Before, we barely had enough to eat when the livestock were gone. Now, I grow food for my children and sell the surplus. We are no longer dependent on the cattle.”
The shift to farming has not been without its challenges. Samburu’s harsh climate, coupled with poor soil and limited water access, poses significant obstacles. Yet, Hellen persevered. By applying organic farming techniques and using available resources wisely, she expanded her farm to nearly 10 acres. “It’s not just about growing food. It’s about growing hope,I invested in fencing my farm to protect it from animals,” she adds.
For Naenya, Hellen’s success is a powerful example of what can be achieved through determination and the right support. “The communities we work with are incredibly resourceful,” she says. “When given the tools and knowledge, they embrace change and make it their own.”
Hellen dreams of expanding her farm and introducing more women in her village to farming. “We can’t keep depending on livestock alone,” she says. “With farming, we can secure our future and ensure our children don’t go hungry.” Her journey underscores the importance of grassroots initiatives in tackling climate change. By adopting sustainable practices, communities like Kichinye are proving that even as the climate crisis continues to intensify, adaptation is possible.
As the sun sets over Samburu, casting a golden glow on Hellen’s flourishing farm, it’s clear that she is not just growing crops—she’s sowing the seeds of hope for an entire community.
