A historic financial lifeline has been thrown to the marginalized women of Kenya’s arid lands, promising to shatter the barriers of poverty and exclusion.

In a landmark event in Nanyuki, the Samburu Women Trust has officially unveiled the NAAPU Indigenous Women Fund, accompanied by an immediate disbursement of Sh173 million (£988,000). This is not merely a donation; it is a structural intervention designed to bypass the bureaucratic hurdles that have historically kept indigenous women-led groups from accessing global climate and development finance. The fund targets the unseen backbone of the rural economy: the women of the pastoralist communities.

NAAPU: To Rise and Uplift

The name "NAAPU," drawn from the Samburu language, translates to "to rise" or "to uplift." It perfectly encapsulates the mission of this trust-based grant-making facility. For decades, indigenous women have been the custodians of biodiversity and the primary caregivers in their communities, yet they have remained the least funded demographic. This fund seeks to correct that asymmetry by channeling resources directly to informal collectives operating in remote, often inaccessible areas.

• Direct Impact: The initial tranche of funding targets small, emerging organizations that lack the "professional" polish usually required by international donors but possess deep community trust.
• Breaking Barriers: By removing complex application requirements, NAAPU acknowledges that literacy should not be a prerequisite for leadership or innovation.
• Scope: The fund covers a vast geographic arc, from Laikipia to Samburu and beyond, focusing on women, young girls, and persons with disabilities.

A New Model of Philanthropy

The launch event, attended by a colorful array of representatives from various indigenous communities, was a celebration of autonomy. "We are not just beneficiaries; we are partners," declared a representative from the Indigenous Women Council. The fund's feminist approach challenges the traditional aid model, trusting women to know best how to solve their own problems—be it through climate resilience projects, beadwork cooperatives, or education scholarships.

As the checks were handed over in Nanyuki, the sentiment was palpable: the women of the rangelands are ready to lead. With Sh173 million now in circulation, the NAAPU Fund is betting that investing in indigenous women is the highest-yield investment Kenya can make.