In Kenya’s semi-arid West Pokot County, the Sengenge Mother-to-Mother Support Group is helping families improve food security, nutrition and livelihoods through climate-smart agriculture, reliable water access and women-led economic initiatives.
The group consists of 15 women with children under five and began working with Action Against Hunger in 2024 after being identified through a local health facility amid concerns over malnutrition and limited access to safe water.
A solar-powered water system now provides reliable water to around 750 households, two primary schools serving 641 students and the group’s communal kitchen garden. Two 10,000-litre water tanks and a community-managed borehole have further strengthened access to water, while local health officials report a significant reduction in waterborne diseases.
With reliable water available, the women established a communal vegetable farm that demonstrates climate-smart and agroecological farming techniques. The farm produces kale, spinach, butternut and indigenous vegetables, helping families access more nutritious food throughout the year.
The women use techniques including sunken beds, drip irrigation and animal manure to conserve water, improve soil quality and increase crop production. Surplus vegetables can also be sold locally, creating an additional source of household income.
The results have contributed to improved food security and nutrition. Programme data shows that the use of severe food insecurity coping strategies fell from 10 percent to 1.4 percent. The proportion of women achieving minimum dietary diversity increased from 58 percent to 63 percent, while dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months rose from 55 percent to 65 percent.
The group has also diversified its livelihoods through a KES 100,000 seed capital grant, equivalent to approximately US$772. The women used the funding to purchase goats and received training in animal husbandry, disease prevention, breeding and livestock care.
The goats provide milk for families, manure for crop production and an additional source of income when animals are sold. This combination of farming and livestock activities is helping households reduce their vulnerability to drought and other climate-related shocks.
The women also meet twice a week to manage the farm and participate in a Village Savings and Loan Association. Through saving and lending activities, members are building financial resilience and investing in their agricultural activities. Their experience has encouraged other women in the community to adopt savings and table banking practices.
Training in leadership, financial literacy, record keeping and small business development has further strengthened the group’s ability to manage its activities and develop sustainable livelihoods.
The experience of the Sengenge Women’s Group demonstrates how targeted investments in water, agriculture, nutrition and women’s economic empowerment can create lasting benefits. By combining climate-smart farming with savings, livestock and community learning, the women are helping their families become more food secure while inspiring wider resilience across West Pokot.
