Natural Resources Management

Success Story

Koija Group Ranch

"Star Beds" Enterprise- A wilderness transformation

Koija group ranch was established as a communal grazing area in 1976. Then it was a rich luxuriant wilderness of free-ranging wildlife interspersed with sporadic settlement of the Maasai. For a long time the people of Koija survived on herding cattle and shoats supplemented by gathering of honey and wild fruits. When large private ranchers began demarcating their land, Koija people were forced to adjust from a transhumance migratory lifestyle to being more sedentary as a consequence of reduced grazing range. This confinement and limited mobility affected their historically established seasonal grazing patterns, watering systems and co-existence with resident and migratory wildlife. As a result there was massive degradation of the rangeland due to overstocking and increased incidences of human-wildlife conflict. Likewise, endless cycles of debilitating droughts like the recent one experienced in 2000 decimated their once vibrant livestock herds affecting the livelihood means of approximately 1,000 member households.

When USAID supported partners first visited Koija in 2000 they found a landscape of pounded dusty soil, parched streambanks, spiky unpalatable plants and a people who against their historical resilience had been driven to surviving on relief food. The task of identifying suitable entry points to support a community whose focus had been reduced to basic subsistence survival needs was quite daunting. Was the moment right to rally for environmental conservation and would it really bring back a realisation of economic self-reliance?

The Conservation of Resources through Entreprise (CORE) project team was invited with a mission to: help the group regenerate their land, create new sources of income, and help organise the community so that they could effectively manage themselves, their land, and their new businesses. A major barrier to development and conservation on Koija was that until recently, the group lacked organised leadership and civic institutions. The ranch had neither a bank account nor a title deed to prove ownership of the land.

CORE partners African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Pact Inc., with conservation and Tourism Company Oryx Ltd, took the first bold steps to mobilise the group into action. AWF facilitated the development and signing of a collaboration deal between Oryx Ltd and Koija community group ranch for the development of Koija Starbed business venture. To support Koija jumpstart a viable tourism enterprise, Oryx shared their patented design for the "Starbed,"-successfully deployed at Loisaba ranch next door. A Starbed is a low-cost, low-impact structure resembling a sophisticated tree house. With funding from USAID, Oryx oversaw construction of the Koija Starbeds and trained the current six employees from Koija community on how to operate the facility and deal with guests. Oryx also employed a full-time community liaison officer who has been instrumental in helping the community understand the connection between a healthy environment and a healthy tourism enterprise. Under the agreement Oryx will continue to help Koija with marketing, management, catering and logistics.

Likewise AWF facilitated the formation of two, 30-member, women's groups to engage in parallel spin-off entreprises. They and Oryx have provided training in weaving, beadwork and jewelry design; Oryx provides a steady stream of orders from abroad. Currently, the women's groups operate their own bank accounts: most of the income goes to the joint accounts; some is divided among the members. With their increased income, many women have sent their children to school. They hope to launch other enterprises as well.

The youths (moranis) too have established cultural tourism troupes with a centre for educating guests on the Maasai culture as well as entertainment which has enabled them open a bank account whose savings is largely for welfare services support.

Pact Inc trained group ranch members in leadership and democracy, financial record keeping and management, group dynamics, internal communication, and conflict management. Today Koija is led by a legitimate management committee; is developing a constitution and has joined the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, an association that aids and promotes communities and their conservation-based businesses in the region.

These efforts have resulted in Koija Group Ranch setting aside 500 acres for a nature conservancy. Members say they are impressed with the striking difference in greenery between the conservancy and the rest of the ranch. Already, wildlife is returning to the Koija Conservancy area, and members as well as conservationists are excited about having sighted a wild dog pack. The presence of the rare wild dog indicates that the land is recovering-and can also be a valuable draw for tourists.

The USAID/Kenya Mission director officially launched the Koija Starbed facility on the 7 th of March 2002 . Hopes are high for the Koija Starbed venture. Six moranis (young men) from Koija work at the enterprise, which has hosted a few groups so far. Returns from the tourism business will go primarily to the community as a whole-which aspires to build a health clinic-and will also provide dividends for members. Ranch members are aware that the link with the private investor-as well as the training they have received from USAID through the partner organizations-is invaluable for the success of their venture.

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