Maasai women beading their way out of poverty

It is 10 am and a group of women can be seen sitting under an acacia tree at Meshanana gate.

Meshanana is one of the three gates into Amboseli National Park.

The other two are Iremito and Kimana.

The Amboseli National Park, in the southern region of Kenya, entices tourists with its rich biodiversity and landscapes.

As the park pulls visitors, Maasai women are making a killing through beadwork by selling handicraft to tourists.

The women use beadwork as one way of emancipating themselves from poverty.

Meshanana women group treasurer Teresia Kiria, 40, says they have rules for the 200 members.

“Whenever we have meetings, all members must come. If one fails to come, they have to pay a fine of Sh500,” Kiria says.

Members who fail to attend meetings for three consecutive months are deregistered.

Their work begins at 11 am up to 3 pm to free them for other chores.

In 2024, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) stepped in and started supporting the group.

IFAW provided raw materials and linked them to markets.

“IFAW supported us with beads and other materials and when we took our products to the market, they were accepted by clients,” Kiria says.

Some of the products the group makes include necklaces, bangles, earrings, blankets, shoes and cups.

They sell one piece of necklace for Sh800.

At one point, the group made and sold 1,000 pieces and made Sh800,000.

The only challenge is they do not have a workshop.

Kiria says as they wait for help, they will continue doing their work under the acacia tree.

IFAW’s youth and gender officer Daisy Ochiel says they connect women doing beadwork to clients.

Despite their skills, many women only sell their products locally.

Ochiel says to access and thrive in foreign markets, there is need for each product to be standardised and refined.

It is for this reason that IFAW sponsored technical workshops with beading experts to up-skill the women on crafting world-class products.

Beadwork is a traditional craft symbolic of beauty, culture, identity, heritage and even social class in the Maasai community.

The patterns and colours in each piece are inspired by the natural beauty of Kenya’s landscapes.