Faith Ntinyari another member of Kithima CBO showing her produce
Kithima, a small community in Meru County, Kenya, is located at the edge of the arid Isiolo region.
The harsh climate, characterized by intense heat, minimal rainfall, and limited vegetation, has made traditional farming practices increasingly unsustainable.
With unpredictable weather patterns and recurrent droughts, many residents face significant challenges in sustaining their livelihoods through agriculture.
In response to this, a transformative project focusing on poultry rearing has provided the community with an alternative means of survival, contributing to both food security and income generation.
Understanding the Participatory Grant-Making Process
The poultry rearing project in Kithima is part of the Participatory Grant Making (PGM) initiative, a community-driven funding model pioneered by Transform Trade in 2021.
The core objective of PGM is to empower local communities by shifting decision-making and control away from donors and external stakeholders, placing it directly in the hands of the beneficiaries.
A key feature of the PGM model is the 50/50 cost-sharing approach, where funding is jointly provided by both the community and Transform Trade.
Under this system, the community is required to contribute half of the project’s total budget, either in cash or in-kind contributions, while Transform Trade covers the other half.
This approach ensures that community members are at the forefront of planning, implementing, and sustaining projects that address their specific needs.
Filbert Yona Kavia, Regional Director for Africa at Transform Trade, explains:
“The Participatory Grant Making (PGM) approach is about empowering communities by allowing them to lead the process. The idea is to ensure that the local communities are not only beneficiaries of aid but also active participants in decision-making, planning, and execution.”
In 2023, the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) took over the management of the PGM initiative, helping transition six small-scale agricultural partners from Meru and Kitui counties into new farming ventures.
Kithima CBO (Community-Based Organization), one of the selected partners, decided to focus on poultry rearing, seeing it as a more manageable and resilient farming practice suited for their arid environment.
Before PGM
Before PGM farmers from Kithima had long endured the difficulties of farming in an arid region.
According to Charles Magiri, the Chairman of Kithima CBO, the area has experienced drought for a long time.
“This area is severely affected by drought. Before the recent rainy season, we faced a four-year-long drought. We chose poultry farming because it requires less water and is more manageable compared to traditional crop farming, which depends heavily on unpredictable rainfall.”
To kickstart the project, Kithima CBO members created a proposal with a total budget of Ksh. 3,071,850.
The funds were to be split, with Kithima contributing Ksh. 1,210,400 through both cash and in-kind support, while Transform Trade matched this amount with Ksh. 1,861,450.
Magiri explains, “The funds were allocated to purchasing the initial stock, vaccines, feed, a milling and grinding machine, and other essentials for poultry farming. Each member also contributed to constructing chicken coops and providing labor to make the project a success.”
To ensure the success of the project, Transform Trade also provided capacity-building sessions on poultry management, introducing best practices in chicken husbandry and other technical skills to improve productivity.
PGM Implementation
In July 2024, Kithima CBO distributed 20 chicks to each member, marking the beginning of their poultry farming journey.
One of the standout success stories is that of Judith Nkatha, a member of the group, who has successfully grown her initial stock to over 50 chickens.
She now serves as a mentor to other group members, demonstrating how to manage and care for poultry in this challenging environment.
“ Each chicken breed is housed in a separate enclosure as advised during our group lessons on sustainable poultry farming. And at any sign of illness prompts immediate isolation to prevent any outbreaks, “Nkatha explained to her guests as she guided them through the various coops, illustrating her methods.
As a farmer having different animals and a member of Kithima CBO, Nkatha is also particularly enthusiastic about the newly procured milling and grinding machine.
“This machine will help us produce our chicken feed, reducing costs and improving our ability to grow the flock. It will also allow us to produce other animal feeds for future commercialization,” she said, with a sense of pride in the collective achievement.
For some members of Kithima CBO, the benefits of the poultry-rearing project extend beyond food security.
Faith Ntinyari, a member of the group, has seen both financial and health benefits from the project.
She expressed her satisfaction, stating, “My chicken started laying eggs after just 3 months and I chose to eat my first batch of eggs. This has proved to be very healthy for not only me but my son as well. I gained weight in just two months and am now happier.”
In addition to improved health, Faith has also established a small shop beside her rental home, where she sells eggs at Ksh. 25 per egg.
“The proceeds from my eggs and chickens are much better than any other work I could do. I now have enough money to buy my son’s school supplies and take care of household expenses,” she adds.
“I even bought a goat with the money I earned from selling chickens .”
One other key element of the PGM project in Kithima CBO is the establishment of table banking, a community savings and loan scheme that allows members to contribute small amounts regularly.
These savings enable them to access loans for their businesses or emergencies.
Faith recalls, “I took a loan of Ksh. 3,000 for my business, and I’ve already repaid it. Now, I’ve taken another loan of Ksh. 7,000 to reinvest, and I’m confident I’ll be able to repay it on time.”
This system has provided the community with financial independence, allowing them to invest in their businesses and meet personal needs without relying on external aid.
Challenges
Despite the success of the poultry-rearing project, there have been several challenges along the way.
One of the key challenges involved the table banking system, as some members struggled to make the required contributions.
Magiri shares, “Many of our members live in remote areas with severe poverty. Some couldn’t afford the required contributions, so we had to pause them temporarily. It was difficult to see our community members struggling.”
Another challenge was the increasing demand for chicken feed. Initially, the project budgeted for 20 bags of feed per month, but as the number of chickens grew, the demand for feed also rose, leading to supply shortages.
“We realized that we needed to find a more realistic solution, so we invested in a milling and grinding machine to produce our feed locally,” says Magiri.
PGM Overview
Faith admits that she was initially skeptical about the project, given the failure of previous initiatives in the region.
“We’ve seen many projects come and go, and I didn’t expect this one to be any different. But this time, the beneficiaries were in charge. We were trained on how to ensure the project’s success, and everyone contributed equally,” she reflects.
Magiri echoes her sentiments, emphasizing the shift in mindset that the PGM approach has facilitated.
“Before this project, we always expected donors to do everything for us. This time, we were empowered to make our own decisions and take control of the project. Thanks to Transform Trade and KCDF, we’ve learned how to work together as a community and find sustainable solutions.”
A New Path Forward
Looking ahead, the Kithima community-based organization members are optimistic about the future.
The poultry rearing project has not only provided a viable income source but has also brought the community closer together.
As they continue to learn from one another and share resources, they are building a more resilient, self-reliant future.
“This is just the beginning,” says Maguire.
“With the support from Transform Trade and KCDF, we are now in control of our development. We have learned valuable lessons that we will continue to apply as we grow and succeed together as a community.”
