Women’s Groups in Laikipia Transform Manure into Income and Organic Fertiliser

In Sosian Ward in Laikipia County, livestock waste that was once discarded or burned is now supporting a growing community enterprise led by rural women.

For many years, members of the Naapu Nkoisusu Women Group and Namaiyana Self Group swept manure from livestock sheds and kraals without seeing any economic value in it. Some of the dung was sold cheaply. Much of it washed away during rains or dried under the sun. Animal by-products such as bones, blood, fat and hooves from local slaughterhouses were often thrown away. 

“We never knew animal waste had value,” recalls Kwi Lektashara, a member of the group. “We used to burn the dung to strengthen our mud houses. When it rained, the rest simply washed away. We did not think it could generate income.” 

That began to change when the women received training and support through a circular economy initiative implemented by UN Kenya through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The programme helped local groups improve manure handling, composting techniques and market access, turning what had been discarded waste into a productive resource.

Today the women collect dung from livestock sheds, mix it with water and Effective Microorganisms to speed decomposition and improve nutrient quality. The compost heaps are covered with polythene sheets to protect them from rain and excessive sunlight. Using simple thermometers, the groups monitor the temperature of the piles, turning them regularly and recording each step of the process.

“We follow the process exactly as we were trained,” Kwi explains. “We check the temperature, we turn the manure and we record everything. When the buyer comes, he can see we maintained the right standards. We have become professionals.” 

The change has had a clear economic impact. Monthly income from manure sales among the participating groups increased from about USD 360 to USD 643. In addition, materials previously discarded such as bones, blood, fat, hooves and horns now generate an additional USD 55 per household each month. 

A key partnership emerged through a nearby abattoir. Bernard Macharia, who works with the facility, had been struggling with the growing volume of slaughter waste including blood, bones and offal. Disposal was expensive and raised environmental and sanitation concerns.

“We were spending a lot of money just to get rid of it,” Macharia says. “The waste kept piling up and we were under pressure to find a proper disposal solution.” 

Through the programme, Macharia connected with the women’s groups. Instead of paying for waste disposal, he now sources processed compost inputs from them. The women also collect bones from the abattoir which are later used in fertiliser production.

“The linkage came in very handy,” he explains. “When I collect manure from the groups, it is already composted to standard and properly documented. I do not need to repeat the process. I focus on blending it with abattoir by-products to produce granulated organic fertiliser.” 

With support to upgrade his granulation machinery, Macharia has increased production capacity. Demand for organic fertiliser is rising, creating a steady market for the women’s compost.

Together, the groups and the abattoir have created a local closed-loop system. Livestock manure from farms becomes compost. Slaughter waste from the abattoir is processed and blended. The final fertiliser returns nutrients to the soil, improving agricultural productivity while reducing waste.

The enterprise has also begun to shift traditional roles within the community. Livestock ownership often rests with men, yet manure management and compost production are now largely led by women.

“The animals may belong to the men,” Kwi says with a smile. “But what comes after them, the dung that now brings income, belongs to the women.” 

As incomes rise, more community members including youth and men are becoming involved in the business.

At the county level, the initiative aligns with efforts to promote organic fertiliser use and regenerative agriculture in Laikipia. Support from the county government is helping expand training, strengthen market linkages and encourage farmers to adopt sustainable soil management practices.

For the women in Sosian Ward, the next step is growth. They plan to invest in transport equipment such as a tractor and tuk tuk to move manure and finished compost more efficiently. They also hope to train other farmer groups in composting techniques.

What began as a simple effort to manage waste is steadily becoming a practical pathway for income generation, better waste management and improved soil health across the community.