The Nature Positive Project, implemented by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), has significantly transformed the environmental and economic landscape of Athi Ward, Kitui Count, Kenya’s Lower Eastern.
This is according to progress reports presented during a quarterly ward planning meeting held at AIC Kalivu on October 22, 2024.
The project, funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through the United Church of Canada (UCC), seeks to enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and restore the local environment through conservation agriculture and nature-based solutions.
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The meeting brought together various stakeholders, including the Ward Administrator Festus Kilonzo, chiefs, assistant chiefs, village administrators, Community Resource Persons (CRPs), and Project Management Committee (PMC) members.
CRPs, who are pivotal in driving grassroots initiatives, delivered reports highlighting the successes and challenges faced in the project’s implementation across Athi Ward.
One of the most prominent accomplishments is the significant savings made by participants through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which have enabled communities to engage in income-generating enterprises.
According to CRP data, the participants jointly saved more than Ksh 816,985. These funds have helped members obtain small enterprises and farming loans, resulting in higher household incomes and overall economic well-being.
“We are progressing well, and I see a bright future for my group members. So far, we have saved Ksh15,950, and members have been taking loans to carry out income-generating activities like running small businesses.
Each member of my group has dug Zai pits, and even the least active members have dug 30.
Some have completed digging planting basins, while others are in the process.” said Cecilia Charles, a CRP from Likoni Group.
Besides economic empowerment, the Nature Positive Project has emphasized soil and water conservation. CRPs reported that project beneficiaries had dug 33,106 Zai pits, 16,149 terraces, and 3,391 planting basins in preparation for the forthcoming planting season. These activities are vital for maintaining soil moisture, minimizing erosion, and increasing agricultural production, all of which are critical to the region’s food security.
Tree planting has also increased as part of the project’s overall environmental rehabilitation initiatives.
CRPs indicated that numerous trees had been planted recently, helping stabilize soil, conserve water, and create a sustainable green landscape in Athi Ward.
Ward Administrator Festus Kilonzo praised NCCK for its transformative efforts, stating that the initiative is already having a visible impact on both the environment and the local economy.
“NCCK is doing commendable work. As I move around the ward, I see people preparing tree nurseries, digging Zai Pits, terraces, and planting basins. Many are also taking care of the trees planted during the last rainy season. Most households have adopted kitchen gardens, which have helped improve nutrition at the family level. Moreover, VSLA groups have taken root, thanks to NCCK, and they are progressing well,” said Kilonzo.
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