In many high-potential agricultural areas of Kenya, farmers hesitate to venture into eco-agriculture and nature-based enterprises. The main reason? Success stories are rare, and examples of tangible impact are few and far between. But near South Nandi Forest, Nature Kenya has changed that narrative.
Through its project, “Improving Livelihoods through Sustainable Government, NGO, and Private Partnerships in South Nandi Forest, Western Kenya,” funded by DFID, the UK aid agency, Nature Kenya introduced local communities to eco-agriculture and nature-based enterprise tools and technologies. The results have been inspiring, providing concrete examples of how sustainable practices can improve both livelihoods and environmental conservation.
One remarkable success story comes from the Tebeswet Ogilgei Youth Group, led by the dedicated secretary, Jonah Kiptanui Koech. The group, founded in 2002, has 17 members (11 men and 6 women). With support from Nature Kenya, they received tree seeds, nursery equipment—including 20,000 polythene tubes, a wheelbarrow, spades, watering cans, and rakes—and co-financing from the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF) for 25 modern Langstroth beehives and honey harvesting kits.
Building Skills for Sustainable Enterprises
The project went beyond providing resources. It built the community’s capacity through extensive training in:
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Tree nursery establishment and management
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Woodlot establishment
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Beekeeping and honey processing
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Product value addition
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Enterprise management, business planning, and marketing
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Leadership and group management
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Participatory Forest Management and engagement with the Kenya Forest Service
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Exchange tours to learn from other community implementers
These interventions transformed the group into a thriving model of eco-agriculture. Since 2009, the Tebeswet Ogilgei Youth Group has earned significant income from tree seedlings and beekeeping. For example, in 2009 alone, they sold 20,000 seedlings for Ksh. 200,000 and produced 600 kg of honey, sold for Ksh. 120,000. Even with variations in weather and production, the group maintained a steady income, reinvesting it into diversified ventures like fish ponds, tea nurseries, joint apiaries, and even a hardware store at Yala Trading Centre.
Individual Success: Jonah Kiptanui Koech
Jonah’s story exemplifies how eco-agriculture can transform lives. With project support, he established a woodlot of eucalyptus trees on his acre of land in 2009, which will be ready for sale as poles in 2016. He sold 4,000 seedlings from his nursery, started a fish pond, bought a milk cow, built a permanent toilet, and began constructing a 3-bedroom semi-permanent house.
Thanks to these ventures, Jonah has been able to pay school fees for his two children at a private boarding school and pursue a diploma in project planning and management at Moi University. In 2011, his visible engagement and expertise led to employment as an environmental/project officer at George Williamson Tea Estate, where he now trains local communities in environmental conservation, manages woodlot establishment programs, and coordinates bursaries and revolving funds.
The group also supported former Chairman Joseph Songok, enabling him to complete his bachelor’s in business management and later earn a master’s in human resource management from Moi University.
Inspiring a Community
Today, the wider South Nandi forest-adjacent community is emulating the Tebeswet Ogilgei Youth Group. These examples demonstrate that actively engaging in on-farm forestry not only provides sustainable income but also reduces pressure on gazetted forests. As a result, biodiversity is preserved, microclimates that enhance agricultural production are maintained, and the cultural heritage of these unique landscapes is protected.
Nature Kenya’s work shows that eco-agriculture is not just a theoretical concept—it’s a practical, rewarding, and scalable pathway for communities to achieve both economic and environmental resilience.
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