Month: July 2026

The Lower Eastern Women Cooperative Union (LEWOCO) has successfully concluded a Capacity Building Workshop for Training of Trainers (ToT) VSLA Champions, marking another significant milestone in strengthening community-led financial inclusion and cooperative development.

The workshop focused on deepening participants' understanding of the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) concept while equipping the champions with practical facilitation skills to effectively train and mentor new groups within their communities. Through interactive learning sessions, participants enhanced their knowledge of VSLA methodologies, group governance, record keeping, leadership, financial management, and effective facilitation techniques.

At the end of the training, the VSLA Champions were awarded certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the programme and their commitment to promoting sustainable community savings and lending initiatives.

The newly certified champions are expected to play a key role in expanding and strengthening VSLA groups by supporting members with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their savings groups effectively and sustainably.

The impact of the VSLA programme continues to be felt across LEWOCO's membership. To date, the organisation has established 39 active Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which have become a transformative force for the cooperative and its members. The groups have enabled members to save regularly, access affordable loans, invest in income-generating activities, improve household livelihoods, and build financial resilience.

LEWOCO remains committed to empowering women and smallholder farmers through financial inclusion, capacity building, and community-led development. By investing in local trainers, the cooperative is laying a strong foundation for the continued growth and sustainability of the VSLA programme, ensuring that more communities benefit from improved access to financial services and economic opportunities.

The Lower Eastern Women Cooperative Union (LEWOCO), in partnership with We Effect, proudly participated in the Kenya National Farmers' Federation (KENAFF) World Farmers Organisation (WFO) event held in Nairobi, where farmers from across the country came together to showcase innovations, exchange knowledge, and strengthen partnerships that promote sustainable agriculture.

At the exhibition, LEWOCO displayed a range of high-quality farmer-produced products, including beans, green grams, peas, and natural honey, highlighting the hard work and resilience of smallholder farmers from the Lower Eastern region. The exhibition provided an excellent platform for connecting producers with stakeholders, development partners, policymakers, and potential markets.

The showcased legumes demonstrate the importance of climate-smart agriculture in improving food security, enhancing household incomes, and promoting sustainable farming systems. Rich in nutrients and well-suited to semi-arid regions, these crops continue to play a vital role in building resilient farming communities.

LEWOCO also exhibited premium natural honey produced by its member farmers, reflecting the growing opportunities in beekeeping as a complementary enterprise that supports biodiversity, enhances crop pollination, and diversifies farmers' income sources.

The partnership between LEWOCO and We Effect continues to empower farmers through capacity building, market linkages, value addition, and sustainable agricultural practices. Participating in national and international forums such as the WFO event enables farmers to share experiences, learn from global best practices, and explore new business opportunities.

LEWOCO remains committed to supporting women and smallholder farmers by promoting agricultural enterprises that improve livelihoods, strengthen cooperative development, and contribute to food and nutrition security across the region.

As the cooperative continues to expand market access and promote value addition, such exhibitions reaffirm the importance of partnerships in transforming agriculture into a profitable and sustainable venture for farming communities.

The Lower Eastern Women Cooperative Union (LEWOCO) continues to empower rural women farmers with practical knowledge that improves food security, reduces post-harvest losses, and increases household incomes. As part of these efforts, LEWOCO recently conducted a practical demonstration on post-harvest storage using hermetic bags for members of the Ikombe Weaving Women Group.

Post-harvest losses remain one of the greatest challenges facing smallholder farmers. Improper storage of grains such as maize, beans, green grams, pigeon peas, and cowpeas often leads to damage caused by insects, rodents, and mould, resulting in reduced food quality and financial losses. The training aimed to equip participants with affordable and effective storage techniques that preserve grain quality without relying on chemical pesticides.

During the demonstration, participants were taken through the correct use of hermetic bags, including proper grain drying before storage, careful filling and sealing of the bags, and safe handling practices to maintain the airtight environment required for effective preservation. Facilitators also explained how hermetic storage works by limiting oxygen inside the sealed bags, preventing insect pests from surviving and multiplying while maintaining the quality of stored produce.

The hands-on session allowed members of the Ikombe Weaving Women Group to practice the storage process, ask questions, and share their own experiences with post-harvest handling. Farmers also discussed the economic benefits of adopting hermetic storage technology, including reduced grain losses, improved food safety, better seed viability for the next planting season, and the ability to store produce for longer periods until market prices improve.

By promoting climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices, LEWOCO continues to strengthen the resilience of women farmers across the Lower Eastern region. Through practical demonstrations such as this, the Union is helping farming communities reduce food losses, enhance household food security, and improve their livelihoods.

LEWOCO remains committed to supporting women-led groups with knowledge, skills, and innovative technologies that contribute to sustainable agriculture and stronger rural economies.