Empowering Coastal Communities: The Success of Small-Scale Salt Harvesting in Magarini

How Ilishe Trust is Transforming the Salt Industry for Better Wages and Livelihoods

For decades, workers in the salt mining industry in Magarini, Kenya, endured exploitative conditions—low wages, unsafe environments, and lack of protective gear. However, thanks to Ilishe Trust’s natural resource education clinics, change is happening.

A major success story emerged when the Malindi Rights Forum (MRF) helped form the KAKIMMU Farmers Association, enabling small-scale salt harvesters to sell collectively, increasing their bargaining power. As a result:

• Workers now earn Kshs. 50,000 per month, a historic high.
• A portion of profits is allocated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), supporting local development.
• The project harvested over 61,000 bags of salt in just three months, proving community-owned initiatives can be sustainable and profitable.

This initiative is not just about economic growth; it’s about social justice, resource ownership, and empowering local communities to benefit from their natural wealth.