Patrician Brothers in Kamagut, Kenya

Jacob getting the young chicks into the stove warmer while his mother watches as she cooks on the new energy saving jikostove

The Patrician Brothers are an international religious congregation founded in Ireland in 1808 by Bishop Daniel Delany. Its purpose was to address the social challenges of the time. The charism of the congregation is witnessing Christ through teaching, youth work and by example. Their motto is “Fundamental Option for the Poor”.

Margaret Kwamboka holding a piece of a legwarmer that she makes using the machine behind her

Margaret Kwamboka keeps chickens for protein supply and for income via sales of eggs and poultry meat

Kenya

The Brothers came to Kenya in 1961, and all along are involved in teaching and nurturing talents of the youths through sports. Due to other emerging needs of the country, the brothers are currently working in the areas of Health, Social work and in pastoral work ministries. The Patrician Brothers work with Kamagut village which is about 20km from Eldoret central business center along Eldoret—Kitale road. The majority of households constitute poor families whose income is below national poverty line. This kind of meager income forces them to go with only one meal per day. The area is somehow dry most of the year but receives substantial amount of rainfall during the rainy season. It is not accessible to any water body but have to heavily rely on shallow water wells which sometimes dry off during prolonged dry season and then people have to travel long distances to access water. During these times household food, nutrition and income security low.

Moses Bett in in his kitchen garden mulching the kales to help maintain soil moisture during the current dry spell

The project provides limited external inputs which include assorted clean vegetable seeds appropriate to the locality and small livestock to facilitate establishment of a household kitchen garden. Indigenous vegetables are most encouraged. Capacity and capability training focuses on facilitating understanding of sustainable agriculture concept, principles and practices and the promotion of sustainable agriculture technologies, skills and knowledge. Peace building, gender inclusivity, improved sanitation, climate resilience practices, and youth participation are mainstreamed. The focus is on the achievement of household food, nutrition and income security.