Economic Empowerment
MAACOM recognizes the importance of economic development through addressing the root causes of poverty among the Maasai communities by ensuring that Maasai women realign their own existing resources in order to ensure their sustainability and economic growth.
MAACOM focuses on building the dairy and livestock sector which has been the cornerstone of the Maasai economy for generations. It has provided women with cold chain facilities to aggregate milk as well as provide them access to market for their milk with a guaranteed set minimum price that enables them meet their basic expenses.
MAACOM is also developing cultural art centers where Maasai Women will promote and sell their beadwork.
By nurturing these sectors, we aim to unlock the community’s full potential, promote knowledge and skills transfer across generations, and drive sustainable, transformative change.
Achievements and expected outcomes
1. Dairy Sector
In August 2024, MAACOM established two milk cooling plants in Narok County, which now serve as milk collection points for women from the neighboring communities of Ilmeshuki Le Kule, and Sikawa. In 2025, additional plants have been established in Narok and Kajiado Counties at Empura-Lekanka area towards Maasai Mara Game Reserve with a capacity of 40,000 liters and Dalalekutuk with a capaciy of 3500 liters respectively.
Beginning with the electrification of the milk cooling plants, 300 households have gained access to electricity through the Governments rural electrification project, improving their quality of life. In addition, women, who previously had to travel long distances to sell milk, now benefit from reduced travel time, better milk prices, and protection from exploitation by middlemen.
These changes are expected to lead to increased financial stability for the women enabling them to meet basic needs more easily, which in turn will improve health outcomes and access to education for their families.
With increased financial independence, Maa women are likely to gain greater recognition in the traditionally patriarchal community for their pivotal role in driving social and economic transformation. This recognition may pave the way for them to participate in decision-making processes and contribute meaningfully to shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for their communities.
2. Beadwork
Narok County is known as a tourist destination particularly for the Maasai Mara Game reserve. Maasai beadwork are heavily favoured by the tourists as souvenirs recognizing the importance of this economic activity.
In April 2021, MAACOM established the first community based women beadwork groups which had a total of 527 women from Narok County and supported them with beads worth 10,000 dollars as seed capital. In order to ensure measured growth in the women businesses, MAACOM in 2025 centralized the beadmaking venture and set up the first art center located at Lekanga area next to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Women and girls come together and work jointly to produce and sell real authentic Maasai Jewellery. The art center also provides opportunities for tour guides to offer their services to foreign tourist visiting the Maasai Mara Game reserve.
By empowering women through beadwork, Maacom is not only preserving a vital cultural tradition but also promoting economic independence and resilience within the community.
3. Livestock Breeds Improvement
Pastoralism remains the primary livelihood of the Maa community. To ensure better returns from milk and meat production, there is a growing need to invest in high-quality livestock breeds. In 2025, MaaCom initiated a transformative program in Kajiado County aimed at improving the livelihoods of the Maa community through livestock breeding.
As part of this effort, MaaCom supported nine (9) youth groups by providing Sahiwal bulls—an improved breed known for its superior milk and meat production. These bulls are intended to enhance local herds by serving as breeding stock, both for the youth group members and the broader community. The youth will also generate income by renting out the bulls to other farmers seeking to improve their livestock.
4. Support to Vulnerable women and children
In 2025, MAACOM began a livestock restocking program aimed at supporting vulnerable families in Kajiado county whose livestock were decimated by the long drought that had ravaged the area for over seven years. The program targeted widows, and orphans and donated 4 female sheep/goats for each household as a starting point of rebuilding their own economies.
The aim of the programme is to assist the vulnerable group to regain their dignity, to enable them confidently participate in community gatherings, and ultimately improve their economic well-being.