Kajiado bead products makers are crying foul over exploitation by middlemen. Photo | Stanley Ngotho | nmg
Kajiado women who eke out a living through bead works commonly
known as ‘ushanga’ are an unhappy lot claiming exploitation by brokers.
In
Maasailand, women who have been able to break traditional norms that
confine them to the role of house wives engage in bead work business as a
major source of income.
The women complained of being
exploited by brokers who buy their artworks at through away prices and
reap heavily from the skewed deals.
A broker buys a Maasai shuka decorated with beads at Sh3,000 and sells the same at between Sh9,000 and Sh15,000 upper market.
Other wears go for less than Sh1,000 but can fetch up to Sh5,000 in tourist lodges.
“We
don’t reap enough from our labour as unscrupulous brokers take
advantage of us, control prices and short-change us. They even block us
from the international markets by registering some of our wares in their
names,” said Damaris Sopiato who has been in the business for more than
10 years.
The business employs more than 5,000 women in Kajiado directly.
They
have embraced new designs to be relevant in the market. The trade is no
longer the preserve of old, illiterate women as the learned and young
have joined the venture.
At Namanga, on the
Kenya-Tanzania border, each woman can make a profit of between Sh800 and
Sh1,500 per day. The women take their time to make unique Kenyan
products including decorated rungus, belts, shukas, buckles, necklaces,
bungles, and handbags.
Kajiado
Central Beads Self-help Group member Ruth Lasienka challenged the
county government to build shades for them and ensure they have a market
for their wares.
“We feel neglected by authorities, we
don’t get any support from them. We do not get funds from the county
government yet we contribute to the local economy. Let the county
government plan for a national market,’’ said Ms Lasienka.
A group of women begun a beads market in Kitengela town in 2016 a but the initiative collapsed due to poor management.
Kajiado governor Joseph ole Lenku said a fund will be set up to boost the trade.
The county government will look for a global market for the products, Mr ole Lenku said.
“The
beads work is an economic cash cow for our women and an identity of our
community. My administration will ensure that these women are funded,”
he said.
The Ministry of Tourism created a unit to market Maasai bead works in foreign capitals in 2017.
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