b'Water, Clean Energy, Agriculture and Food Security in KenyaLocation: Kenya: Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi, Machakos, UasinMary Gichuru, Kalyiet Women Group in Eldoret started Gishu and Kakamega. countiesan avocado tree seedling nursery, and now has 7,000 Duration: December 2017 avocado tree seedlings which can be sold for Ksh December 2019150.00. The water tank meant we were able to collect enough water for watering the seedlings, and when full, I can also share water with my neighboursContext Following this, a second womens group was formed with 30 women, all of whom Kenya, Africa has a diverse population ofpracticed subsistence farming. The farmers around 48 million people. Bordered by Southneeded a training centre, and raised funds Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania,to purchase 2.5 hectares of land through the and the Indian Ocean, agriculture representsNakuru council. With the training centre built, the primary commercial sector, with tea andthe women developed a crop demonstration coffee traditionally cash crops, and freshplot, gearing this towards improving their flowers a fast-growing export. The serviceown agricultural practices. Living in a volcanic industry is additionally a major economic driver,area such as Nakuru County, the women were particularly tourism.highly dependent on subsistence farming, and In 2010 the SI Union of Kenya began work with 22poor nutrition, a lack of access to markets, and women of the Mwihoko Women Group. The keyconstantly unreliable rainfall proved a continued objective was to improve access to safe water,barrier to growth and sustainability. and a project was established by the Women for Water Partnership, of which SI President Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, is the President. soroptimistinternational.org 21'