Street Business School Graduation: Naretoi Cohort Takes Bold Step Forward

On 18th September 2025 the Naretoi cohort of 31 small business owners celebrated their graduation from The Maa Trust Street Business School (SBS) training, being the 7th cohort since inception in 2019. This adds to the number of graduates to a total of 256 marking yet another milestone in empowering Maasai communities through entrepreneurship.

Thanks to support from Aqua Nirvana Foundation, the 31 entrepreneurs were upskilled through the  six-month programme , with practical business knowledge covering bookkeeping, marketing, and sound financial management.

Inclusivity was a unique feature in this year’s cohort where men and women who have never stepped inside a classroom  participated in the training programme. All participants regardless of their background, had a common vision; to build stronger, more sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

Why SBS Matters in the Mara

For generations, Maasai families have depended on livestock as their main source of livelihood. However,with population growth, changes in land use, and increased fencing causing land fragmentation, pastoralism can no longer fully support families. Street Business School provides tools to launch and grow sustainable  businesses, diversifying household income sources and enhancing resilience to shocks.

As Terry Davidson, Chairman of The Maa Trust’s Board of Trustees, reflected:

“Forty years ago, when I first started coming to the Mara, very few local businesses were Maasai-owned. Today, that has changed drastically. More and more Maasai-owned businesses are emerging every day, showing true diversification.”

He encouraged the graduates to be resilient, reminding them that true entrepreneurs are those who fail, rise, and try again until success comes.

A Celebration of Resilience and Dedication

The ceremony also featured remarks from Dr. Crystal Mogensen of The Maa Trust, who congratulated the graduates for their commitment:

“It takes a lot of dedication to see the SBS programme through to the end, especially when balancing family and other responsibilities at home.”

Indeed, the commitment of the participants was clear. One graduate, Lilian Narok shared how the training gave her a breakthrough in bookkeeping:

“Before SBS, I never understood how to track expenses. Now I can calculate my profits and plan ahead. I feel in control of my business.”

Pitching Competition

This year’s graduation had an exciting new twist. The Maa Trust introduced a business pitching competition in which 10 shortlisted graduates participated. A panel of judges deployed a  rigorous, transparent, and unbiased process to narrow down to three winners, who each received business capital boost of KES. 150,000; 100,000; and 50,000 respectively

At the end of the competition, three winners, Kerempe Koshal, Naisula Njapit and Esther Tingisha, were awarded a combined investment of KES 300,000 to jumpstart their ventures.

Among the winners was Kerempe, who moved the crowd with her emotional speech:

“I never imagined a grandma like myself could win. I promise to use these funds exactly as I outlined in my proposal to grow my business.”

Looking Ahead

As the ceremony came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with hope, pride, and excitement for the future. With new skills and access to capital, this graduating class is poised to bring even more transformation to their communities.

The Street Business School programme remains one of The Maa Trust’s most impactful socio-economic initiatives, equipping people to navigate a rapidly changing landscape and ensuring that economic empowerment goes hand-in-hand with conservation.

The 7th cohort of SBS graduates now joins a growing movement of 261 Maasai entrepreneurs taking bold steps into a brighter future.