Elections in five new Counties - February 2025

We were six on our trip to Kenya from 8 to 16 February 2025: Christine Reitelshöfer, deputy regional farmer, Beate Opel, district farmer of Upper Franconia, Rita Götz, district farmer of Upper Palatinate, Sabine Asum, district farmer of Aichach-Friedberg, Nathalie Bruno, project assistant, and myself, Angelika Eberl, project manager. 
    

 The massif of Mount Kenya from Nyeri. 

We started in Nyeri, and here the weather was kind to us; with good visibility, we could see Mount Kenya (5,199 m) for the first time - very impressive.  

Accompanying the first elections in three counties
One of the main aims of our trip was to accompany the first elections of county executive committees in the new counties of Nyeri, Busia and Vihiga. The elections were duly monitored and conducted by an independent election committee. The election committee was made up of county government representatives from the departments of Social Services, Agriculture and Co-operatives. All regulations were adhered to and recorded. 
Lilian Dhumga, Director of Social Services in Nyeri, invited the women to call her at any time and ask for advice. a strong representation is so important for the rural women here in the County. 
Karen Karendi, County Executive Committee Member for Cooperatives, said she was happy to be in a meeting with only women today. Normally, she sits alone among men. She encouraged the women: ‘Come to the front row! What you have to say is important’.  
 

Election committee and elected WoFaAK county executive in Nyeri County. 

After the elections, the new volunteers were introduced to their tasks and responsibilities. With these new structures, the Women Farmers Association of Kenya (WoFaAK) is now active in ten counties with elected representation. 
The elected board of Busia.

Each county executive committee is made up of nine members:
- Chairperson
- Deputy Chairperson
- Secretary
- Deputy secretary
- Treasurer
- Youth representative
- Disabled representative
- Two assessors
 
                           The elected county board of Vihiga with the election committee and us.

Blume  We congratulate all elected representatives and wish you a lot of success.  Blume
 

Cooperation with Bavarian institutions 

In addition to the elections, important meetings with two renowned institutions from Bavaria were on the programme:

1. Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT): HSWT is committed internationally and cooperates with partner universities in Kenya, including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Bondo, Siaya County. 

As a Bavarian university of applied sciences, the HSWT carries out a large number of projects with African partner institutions in the field of applied academic education and capacity building as part of its ‘Network Africa’. Across all projects, the focus is on strengthening the agricultural value chains in the regions of the partner institutions through practical training and research.

2. Maschinenring Bayern and Maschinenring Foundation (MRF): Maschinenring supports agricultural initiatives and is setting up machinery rings in Senegal and Kenya based on the Bavarian model. The Maschinenring Foundation (MRF) has been implementing the successful model of the local self-help organisation of farmers, which has been tried and tested for 60 years, on the African continent for some time now. Over the past five years, MRF has set up a total of 130 machinery rings with 30,500 member farms in Senegal and Kenya. This has increased the degree of mechanisation and productivity of small farmers and contributed to climate and resource protection. 

HSWT, MRF and the Bildungswerk der bayerischen Wirtschaft (bbw) are implementing the joint project FAMFISK (Fostering Agricultural Machinery and Food Technology in Senegal and Kenya) to promote stronger links between vocational training and higher education and to support the expansion of machinery rings in Kenya.
Based on these projects, we contacted the machinery ring and the HSWT to introduce and publicise the Kenyan rural women's association WoFaAK as a serious partner.

                                                                        Together with representatives of JOUUST University and Prof Christopher Gore, who is in charge of implementing FAMFISK.

New collaborations and networks
Together with Caren Adhiambo and Janet Omolloh, the chair and the treasurer of WoFaAK Siaya, we visited representatives of JOUUST University. Our aim at the BBV-LIZ was to establish contacts and create networks - and we were extremely successful in doing so. The result:a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between JOUUST University and WoFaAK Siaya. This forms the basis for constructive cooperation in several areas, such as climate change, mechanisation and food security.

      

 In conversation with Prof Emily Akuno, Vice-Chancellor of the JOUUST University 

One day later, we met with representatives of WoFaAK Kakamega and Bridgid Adhiambo. Bridgid is a young woman who studied in Triesdorf for three years and has now taken on setting up a machinery ring in Kakamega. Phassy Mmbone, Ann Vudinga and Shamim Mohammed from the WoFaAK district association and Bridgid Adhiambo recognised the benefits of working together and are determined to work together for the women farmers in Kakamega County. What a great result!
 From left: Phassy Mmbone, Sabine Asum, Shamim Mohammed, Angelika Eberl, Ann Vudinga, Christine Reitelshöfer, Bridgid Adhiambo, Rita Götz and Beate Opel.

Important meetings in Nairobi
Back in Nairobi, we had two talks. The first one was particularly important to us: an exchange with the elected WoFaAK representatives at the national level. In a very constructive discussion, we shared our experiences and activities of the last few months. The successfully organised Rural Women's Days and Field Days, the increasing number of member groups and the good networking with the County Governments deserve special mention. WoFaAK has built up an excellent reputation, thanks in particular to the committed women in the honorary positions and all members.

 The participants in the exchange with the Bavarian rural women and Charles Mbuthia, expert for associations.

 Our project ends in one year, on 31 March 2026, which was an opportunity for our Bavarian rural women's representatives to point out the success factors of our association. Retention and recruitment of members, constructive cooperation, regular dialogue with the members and transparent association management are essential for the sustainability of an association. Unity and cohesion, both internally and externally, are key factors - and above all, adherence to democratic principles. 
 

                                      In the circle of Bavarian rural women, Stephane de Mfouangoum from GIZ-StäBO

Shortly before our flight back to Germany, we met with Stephane de Mfouangoum from GIZ-StäBO, who helped organise and conduct training sessions in Nairobi. As we have a contract with GIZ, Stephane is our contact person at BBV-LIZ. Stephane gave us a deep insight into GIZ's development cooperation. I took the opportunity to introduce him to our Bavarian rural women and give a brief report on our trip. We had a lively discussion about our work and emphasised the importance of international cooperation. One profession, two worlds - practitioners like us quickly and effectively establish contacts with Kenyan rural women - a prerequisite for acceptance and open and trusting cooperation.  
 

     Once again, our group posed at the equator.

"Asante sana" to everyone who made our trip so special. We will stay tuned!