Goat Program Partner

Lembeu Kitamwas, Goat Program Coordinator

In the eyes of AMSO Goat Program Coordinator Lembeu Kitamwas, the program has both immediate and long-term impact. He says women who previously relied on others for survival now happily function more independently, while gaining respect from their peers. Women raising the goats are often able to expand and even double their herds, ensuring a source of livelihood into the future.

“I like seeing the women becoming strong—they have real ownership of the goats,” Lembeu says. “They value themselves, and they’re proud to have animals they can pass down to their kids.”

In his position with MP, Lembeu works with village officials to determine which women qualify to receive goats. These are typically those who are most vulnerable. He then coordinates all aspects of the goat program. He buys the goats at the large market that takes place twice a month in Karatu. He transports the goats to the village by foot and distributes them fairly to each recipient in an official ceremony.

Lembeu follows up on recipients regularly and tracks goat deaths, births, and sickness. He checks in on the baby animals and oversees medicine distribution. He also provides support for the women when issues arise, such as their husbands trying to sell their goats for alcohol money.

Lembeu has been working with Maasai Partners since 2010, initially as a group coordinator with the loan program. He helped start the goat program in Alailelai. He owns 20 goats, nine cows and six sheep and says he has benefitted personally from his job.

“Several times I spent my salary to buy food for security for my family and bought more animals. In the Maasai community, if you have no animals people don’t respect you.”