How Tharaka Nithi Women Are Turning Goats Into Gold

For decades, goats in Tharaka Nithi were kept primarily for meat and cultural purposes. But now, the narrative is changing. A visit to Marimanti Ward reveals dozens of women milking their Toggenburg goats every morning, extracting up to 2.5 litres per domestic animal, a significant shift from the 0.5 litres traditional breeds offered.

“I used to rely on miraa sales, which were unreliable. Now, my goat milk earns me up to KSh 600 daily,” says Naomi Kaaria, a member of the Gatarakwa Women's Group in Chiakariga.

According to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), goat milk is richer in calcium and iron than cow milk, and more digestible for children and the elderly. In an area where malnutrition cases were once high, the switch to goat milk is not just economic. It is life-saving.

According to the health department in Tharaka Nithi County, they have recorded a 30% improvement in nutritional indicators among children in dairy goat-farming households.

Yet, the journey hasn't been smooth. Inadequate veterinary services and limited access to markets once threatened the budding industry. That’s until the Tharaka Nithi Dairy Goat Cooperative Society, formed in 2022, began training farmers on breeding, milk hygiene, and cooperative marketing.

“We sell collectively, package well, and now supply supermarkets in Chuka and even Meru,” says James Kaaria, the Cooperative chairperson.

Traditionally, livestock belonged to men, but women in Tharaka Nithi have taken charge. Supported by NGOs like Heifer International Kenya, over 1,200 women have been trained and empowered to own and manage dairy goats.

“There was resistance, but when men saw the money, they began buying goats for their wives,” jokes Mary Karimi, a community mobilizer in Mariani in Tharaka Nithi county.

As the sun sets behind the green hills of Tharaka Nithi, the bleating of goats echoes a story of hope. What began as a simple agricultural shift is now a symbol of resilience, gender equity, and grassroots development.

Tharaka Nithi may not be famous for large-scale agriculture or tourism, but it’s now gaining a name for pioneering community-led change one drop of goat milk at a time.