Source: The Star
ANNAH Bonareri is among many women from Tabaka in South Mugirango constituency who abandoned brewing of illicit brew to venture into soapstone carving.

Bonareri, a mother of seven, says she engaged in the illicit business for 37 years but decided to quit after realising it was no longer profitable due to constant raids by security officials.

"Illicit brews are not profitable. I was always living in constant fear of raids from provincial administrators. I decided to quit," she says.

After quitting the brewing of illicit brews, Bonareri took a major step and became one of the pioneering women to venture into soapstone carving, a field hitherto dominated by men.

She has joined more than 60 women in overcoming cultural barriers to venture into stone carving.

They underwent training under a project designed by award-winning sculptor Gerard Motondi. The project was sponsored by Site enterprise, a local NGO funded by DFID.

The training took one year with Site providing training tools, first aid kits, personal protective equipment and purchasing raw stones for the women.

Motondi introduced the use of power tools in the training to enhance productivity and reduce wastage during the carving process.

"Women are more enterprising and good spenders of money. That is why we decided to empower them with the skills and protective gear so that they increase family earnings," Motondi said.

Some 40 women graduated from the training recently.

Bonareri said before she joined the training, she had already started assisting her husband, Maurice Machogu, in carving small products.

After undergoing a one year training, Bonareri said she joined a group called Tabaka Gosere Women Carvers group.

"I did not know that soapstone carving had high profits than brewing chang'aa until I joined the industry," she added.

Bonareri says carving was previously taken to be a preserve of men but she is glad that her husband allowed her to pursue her new interest.

Rose Biyaki is another group member who joined the carving industry to earn a living for her family because of sickness.

Biyaki says she was initially depending on her husband to fend for them but after he fell sick and was paralysed, she was forced to look for means of supporting her family.

"I was never a carver but after my husband who used to carve and cater for our needs was paralysed, I had no option but to venture into the business where I earn a living from," Biyaki said.

Richard Oino Nyangweso, who has been carving together with his wife Jane, says the craft has helped them pay fees for their daughter Christine who is doing a Bachelor of Education degree at Garissa University.

Nyangweso says he allowed his wife to join the trade to be an example his colleagues who used to think that carving is only meant for men alone.

"I am proud of my wife because she greatly assists me in the carving to an extent that we are able to pay fees for our daughter who is a second year student in university," Nyangweso said.

"I personally trained her on how to make various sculptures which we now sell at reasonable prices," he said.

He said that together with his wife, they ferry carving stones from various quarries which they assembly at their carving area before embarking in the business.

Gladys Moraa Ogoti is another woman who has ventured into soapstone carving.

"This is what I do almost daily. I have to collect the stones from the mines and return to the shades where I carve various items. Initially, women were only there to assist their husbands with sanding, washing and carrying carvings to the shop," Moraa says with a smile.

Moraa's husband, Ogoti Obonyo, is a happy man and has been very supportive.

"She is helping me carry the financial burden in the family and I fully support her. I don't see any reason to discourage her," Obonyo says.

Motondi, who was actively involved in training of the women who graduated last month, says the project will only be viable if the carvers get good markets for their products.

Motondi noted that carvers are being exploited by middlemen who buy their products at lower prices and in turn sell at high prices in international markets.

Motondi says the women were trained on safety skills while working in their various points, saying that cases of injuries or deaths resulting from mining of soapstone have since reduced.

"We trained the women on safety while in their working points and we are happy to note that for past three years we have never recorded any deaths or injuries in the quarries," Motondi said.

He said the county government help the carvers source for lucrative markets.

"Poverty can only be eradicated here if the carvers are assisted to get good markets for their products," Motondi said.

Tabaka ward representative Daniel Apepo said the carvers should not sell their finished products at throw-away prices.

"I am discouraging the carvers against selling their finished products at throw-away prices," Apepo said.

Naftal Oweru, who is the acting chief officer in the ministry of trade and industrialisation in the county, asked the men who engage in soapstone carving not to squander the money they get from the business.

"I am urging men to support their wives who have ventured into the soapstone carving business. They should also use the money to educate their children," Oweru said. He also advised the carvers to diversify their products.

"I am urging you not to carve similar products because they cannot get good markets. You should diversify your products if you want them to fetch high prices," he said.

Oweru said the sector faces myriad of challenges. "The carvers are faced with many challenges including poor packaging, lack of market and information. They need to be trained on how to go about this business," Oweru said.

In order for the carvers to boost the sale of their products, Oweru hinted that the county government is looking for an investor to put up a tourist hotel in the area.

Site CEO Haron Mbaiya said the organisation achieved its targets during the three years it worked with the Tabaka community.

"Before we came in, there used to be fatal accidents at the mines. We trained miners and mine owners on mining skills and protection and nobody has lost his or her life in the last three years," Mbaiya said.

Through the trainings, there is now a clear soapstone value chain and Site has built shades for various groups to work under. Initially, their work could be interrupted with harsh sun and rainfall which is common in the area.

"Actors in soapstone trade now understand that fair and ethical trade practices is key if they are to reap the gains thereof," Mbaiya said.

After the graduation, a consultative forum was held the following day at Tabaka Mission Hospital hall. It was attended by the Kisii county assembly speaker Kerosi Ondieki who applauded the Kisii stone industry. He promised that he will ensure that the Kisii Soapstone Bill will be debated and passed. "It is through the bill that that the rights of soapstone carvers will be addressed," he said.

The forum supported the idea of establishing a one-stop-shop market centre for Kisii stone products at Tabaka.

Soapstone is a key resource in the county, with geologists estimating that only about 20 per cent of it has been exploited. The sector directly supports 35,000 people and contributes nearly 40 per cent of the value Kenya exports.

That is why the Kisii County Assembly plans to discuss a Soapstone Bill soon that will among other things have saostone identified as the identity of Kisii.

"It's the bill that will solve the many problems facing this sector," Ondieki said.

Sculptor Gerald Motondi shows women how to carve.

• Kenya