From charcoal to goats: How goats are changing Isiolo's women's lives

It’s a hot afternoon, Carla Emeiyen sits on a bench beneath dappled patches of shade cast by thorny branches that spread wide like open umbrellas, swaying gently in the breeze.

Next to her, several goats lie quietly, seeking refuge from the scorching afternoon heat. She watches them before turning her gaze across the dry, sprawling landscape.

Carla rears goats, but for her, the animals are more than just livestock. They symbolise not only her own remarkable journey but also that of many other women in the Kiwanja area of Isiolo County, who have broken free from traditional domestic roles shaped by deeply rooted patriarchal norms to become decision-makers, income earners and key contributors to their families' livelihoods.

However, the road to financial independence has not been easy. Although livestock trading would have been an ideal source of income, deeply rooted cultural traditions barred women from owning or trading livestock, leaving them with few opportunities to earn a living.

When her polygamous husband was away for long periods, Emeiyen was left to care for and provide for her children on her own.

Desperate to keep them in school and put food on the table, she joined other women in cutting trees, burning charcoal and selling it to earn an income.

The charcoal business was strenuous with little reward despite the immense effort involved.

"It was a lot of work. We had to walk long distances to search for trees in remote thickets. Then cut them down, arrange the wood, light the kilns and wait for the charcoal to burn. Sometimes it took upto five days before the charcoal was ready," she recalls.

The hardship did not end there. Transporting the charcoal to market exposed the women to the constant risk of arrest for illegal logging and charcoal burning.

The women, however, earned only enough to buy food and save a small amount through their Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).

But that changed in 2022 when Heifer International Kenya launched the Kenya Livestock Marketing and Resilience Project (KLMP) in partnership with the Swedish Embassy.

The project aims to strengthen livestock production and marketing systems to improve the livelihoods and resilience of red meat producers, particularly pastoralist communities.

It was through this project that Emeiyen and other women received training and were empowered to participate fully in the red meat value chain.

Dr Dennis Ogaso, livestock production coordinator at Heifer International Kenya, says the project began by working with organised farmer groups comprising women and youth.

It also conducted social and behaviour change communication sessions involving both men and women to highlight the critical role women play in household livelihoods and livestock production, in Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, Kajiado and Nakuru counties.

"These engagements encouraged communities to support women's participation in livestock ownership, marketing and decision-making," Ogaso says.

Eventually, community attitudes began to change and men allowed women to own livestock, particularly goats. For Emeiyen and other women, this marked the beginning of their journey to financial independence.

Using part of her savings, Emeiyen bought three goats, which she later resold at a profit. She gradually reinvested her earnings, expanding her herd. Today, she owns more than 20 goats at any given time.

She now buys goats for between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000 and resells them for an average of Sh8,500, earning a profit of between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000 per goat.

"On a good week, I sell an average of seven goats. It's good money," she says.

The goat business has helped her meet her family's needs, including paying school fees for her four children.

Fortunately, the women have access to several off-takers who provide ready markets for their goats, in addition to local markets in Kinna, Isiolo and Archers Post.

Ogaso says the project connects organised farmer groups with established private-sector off-takers, who purchase livestock directly from farmers for local markets and export markets, including the Middle East.

It also introduced weighing scales to enable farmers to sell livestock based on live weight, ensuring more transparent and fair pricing.

“Traditionally, livestock prices were determined through visual assessment, commonly referred to as ‘eyeballing,’ which often undervalued animals,” he explains.

Since export markets largely purchase livestock by weight, the system also helps farmers meet international market requirements.

Like Emeiyen, Angelina Lokwang once relied on burning and selling charcoal to earn a living. She recalls leaving home at 7am and returning at 6pm after spending the entire day searching for trees, cutting wood and tending to charcoal kilns.

Everything changed when she joined the KLMP, which she describes as godsend.

Using her savings, Lokwang bought three goats for Sh3,500 each. She fattened and sold them at a profit, reinvesting the proceeds in more goats. Today, she owns 15 goats.

"I had more, but I sold some on the previous market day. Were it not for daily household expenses and school fees, I would be a millionaire," she says with a laugh.

On a market day, she earns at least Sh7,000 in profit from goat sales.

Lokwang, a mother of eight says, goat business has transformed her status within her household and the community. She’s now economically empowered, respected and actively involved in key family decisions.

Another testimonial story is of Veronica Losekon who got married at an early age and never had the opportunity to receive a formal education, making it difficult to provide for her young family.

At that time, her husband was often away herding livestock, sometimes for days or even weeks, especially during prolonged periods of drought, leaving her to care for the children and manage the household on her own.

To make ends meet, Veronica joined other women in burning and selling charcoal. She also brew traditional liquor for sale.

Her fortunes changed when she joined the initiative, which opened the door to goat trading. Using a loan from her VSLA, she bought her first three goats. She reinvested the profits from each sale, gradually growing her herd. She currently owns 20 goats.

Veronica now earns an average profit of Sh8,000 on every market day, income that has enabled her to support her family, pay school fees and improve their standard of living.

Using proceeds from her goat business, Veronica bought her husband a motorcycle, which he now uses to earn an income and support the family.

"The goat business has changed our lives. My husband fully supports what I do because he has seen the benefits first-hand," she says.

All the women under the initiative are members of the Kiwanja Ngaremara Livestock Cooperative, where they save regularly and access loans to expand their goat-rearing businesses.

The women say the cooperative has strengthened their financial security, with each member now having savings of at least Sh50,000.

Despite the success of the goat business, the women say they continue to face several challenges. They travel to Merile, a town located far from their village, to buy goats for resale. The journey is risky, and some have been attacked and robbed by bandits while transporting the animals.

Disease outbreaks have also claimed some of their herds, reducing their earnings. Also, during prolonged droughts, they are forced to trek long distances in search of water and pasture to keep their livestock alive.

Market fluctuations also present another challenge for the goat keepers. At times, demand is low and prices fall, leaving traders with little profit.

They explain, "You may buy goats at a high price, only to find the market price has dropped by the time you want to sell. But you have no choice, especially when schools reopen and everyone is selling goats to raise school fees."

Through goat rearing, the women have achieved financial independence, gained a stronger voice in household decision-making and regained their confidence.