In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, communities face the persistent threats of low rainfall and prolonged droughts. These climate challenges hinder agricultural productivity and make food insecurity a daily reality for many families. Kamungi Conservancy, located in a semi-arid region on the northern boundary of Tsavo West National Park, is no exception.
For over a decade, Tsavo Trust has partnered with Kamungi Conservancy to address these challenges through community-led, sustainable interventions that build resilience, improve food security, and enhance livelihoods.
To date, Tsavo Trust has equipped 140 households with 60,000-litre dam liners for rainwater harvesting, trained over 259 households in climate-smart agriculture and permaculture techniques, supported more than 100 households with sack gardens to maximize vegetable production in small spaces with minimal water, and significantly reduced crop raiding by wildlife through human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures.
Photo 1: A thriving sack garden of Sukuma Wiki (Collard Greens) at a household in Kamungi Conservancy, April 2025
These initiatives are having a profound impact on the lives of local community members like Kisilu and Kanini:
Mark Kisilu, a Kamungi Conservancy member, shares, “Thanks to the dam liner, my water pan stores water for up to eight months a year. I now grow collard greens, spinach, tomatoes, and pumpkins in my kitchen garden. This not only feeds my family but also saves us at least KES 15,000 annually which we used to spend on vegetables. Last year, I earned KES 4,800 from selling surplus tomatoes.’’
Kanini Kindu, another Kamungi Conservancy member, adds, “With the dam liner and the training in climate-smart agriculture, I established my kitchen garden. I regularly harvest fresh spinach, eggplant, collard greens, and tomatoes. I even recently harvested three bunches of bananas!”
Photo 2: Healthy banana bunch at a Kamungi Conservancy household, showcasing the impact of sustainable farming practices, April 2025
These household transformations go beyond food and income. When households are food secure and economically stable, they’re less likely to depend on unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. By promoting sustainable livelihoods, Tsavo Trust is not only strengthening household resilience—but also helping to reduce the environmental degradation drivers, benefiting both people and nature.
Join Tsavo Trust in safeguarding biodiversity and empowering communities in the greater Tsavo ecosystem. Together, we can create a future where both people and nature thrive.
