A Boost for Baringo; Conservancy Livelihoods Fund to Make Education Accessible

Ruko Community Conservancy in Baringo County last week received Ksh. 6,143, 750 (USD 614.4) from the NRT Conservancy Livelihood Fund (CLF).

The CLF is supported by USAID and DANIDA among others, and is aimed at empowering communities to identify, plan and implement their own development programmes through their conservancies.

Ruko has dedicated its 2019 CLF funding to school bursaries and vocational training, targeting over 210 students in secondary schools, colleges and 20 vocational training institutes.

In 2018, 16 community conservancies were awarded a total of Ksh 52.9million from the CLF, with 57% of funding spent on micro-finance, followed by 15% spent on education.

During the launch, 176 pupils from four primary schools, including Noosukuro Primary School (which was recently re-opened after 10 years of closure following the inter-tribal conflicts) were issued with uniforms from previous CLF funding.

“Uniforms make a whole lot of difference in their education and lives. Symbolically, this means that we are handing over the conservation mantle to the next generation,” says Rebecca Kochulem, NRT West Community Development officer.

64 girls and 146 boys in secondary schools and colleges in and around Ruko will benefit from the 2019 funds.

For vocational training, nine girls and 11 boys will be issued with bursaries, a move aimed at bridging the gap for the vulnerable groups, especially those who were displaced by conflict in early 2005.

The CLF launch was attended by officials from the National and County governments together with over 300 community beneficiaries from Rugus and Komolion at Ruko Community Conservancy Headquarters on April 9th 2019.

The Baringo County Government recognizes the socio-economic and environmental benefits of Ruko Community Conservancy, and have provided support in the past. To this end, the County Government also handed over Ksh. 1million of Ward Fund money to the community, through the conservancy for construction of Ruko Conservancy staff houses.

Baringo County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Environment, Natural Resources, Wildlife and Tourism Ms. Scola Kimeli represented Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis during the launch.