Tree distribution celebration

On 13th November 2023 I was commissioned by Miti Alliance to document tree distributions, to mark a nationwide tree planting day declared by government of Kenya as a public holiday.

Bank of Africa Kenya through Miti Alliance were able to distribute 1110 grafted avocado seedlings, 550 indigenous trees which included tree species such as Croton megalocarpus, Makhamia, Kanunga and Sesbania, 12000 seedballs which include Sesbania and acacia polycantha.

These species of trees were selected for distribution for their higher likelihood to thrive in the semi arid areas of Naro Moru.

Miti Alliance took the a hundred farmers through a training on how to prepare the soil, how to plant the trees and how to take care of the trees.

Once the avocado trees mature and bring forth fruits, the families of the respective farmers will have a boost on their nutrition, surplus sold for financial reward, while the indigenous trees will increase biodiversity.

You empower a farmer you empower a community.

Nairobi photo walk 2023

I showed up for Nikon Kenya Baraza Media Lab photo walk in Nairobi CBD this last Sunday.
I was amazed by the sheer numbers of photographers who responded to the call out.
While other photographers were snapping away I was struggling on what to shoot...
In my struggle I resort to street photography.

Being able to photograph my city without fear of being harassed or robbed, was such a relief!
It was a joy to have meaningful conversations with my peers.
as a documentary photographer we always think of stories then photograph. This was not that day for me!

I came in with no story in mind, neither was I letting this one of a chance to photograph my city go. Armed with a Nikon Z6ii and Nikkor 24-70mm I got these frames.
All in all I was trying to get different images of this city that I call home.

Many thanks to Nikon Kenya Baraza Media Lab for making this possible.

#BMLPhotoWalk #BMLPW23 #SPS23

Empowering young women in my community

In December 2020 I was commissioned by Garden of Hope Foundation to document a young women program in Ruai, Nairobi county.

Young women empowerment started as a program that was meant to benefit young girls who had completed their high school, those who had dropped out of school, and young mothers with no where to go. Faith Njeri decided to form a training where these young women can learn entrepreneurial, mentorship and basic computer skills.

Day one, the young women were taken through mentorship and entrepreneurship sessions, as seen below.

Linet taking the young women through a mentorship session.

Faith Njeri having a conversations with the young women.

Peer to peer group discussion…

Day two of shooting, they were taken through bead making…

A posed portait of Faith Njeri.

This is what Faith Njeri had to say about the program.

”…I would want to continue with the project and reach as many girls as possible in marginalised areas since this is my dream and seeing my dream come to reality will always be my biggest achievement. I would want to be the hope for those young mothers who think that being in the kitchen is all what is remaining for them…”

Dominic's Kitchen

I met Dominic through a freind in 2017

The same year he started his small hotel business, commonly known as “kibanda” (makeshit hotel). Having worked in a local supermaket and then in a kibanda, he decided to start his own outfit with Kshs 6,000.00 that he had saved over time.

Three months after opening shop he almost gave up. People did not know who he was, I could relate because, I was once there, (I started my photography business July of 2017). The doubts, the losses incurred to make sure the business stays afloat, the days when there was no client to serve! Wondering if tomorrow will be the same or have a better day.

Not only did people not know him, or his food, but also Kenya was in an electioneering period. The general elections made the economy slow, and this affected his business just as it did mine.

President Kenyatta was sworn in into office for a second term and things started moving. This allowed Dominic to earn the trust from his clients, and referals brought in more clients. More business meant he could now invest back into his hotel business and make other investments elsewhere.

His mindset blowed my mind away!

Here is a backstory of how he prepares his dishes.

Dominics starts his day by making chapatis/chapos (flat bread)

I had just missed him mixing the dough…

Dominic in his dust coat rolling chapos..

He was abit tensed, and I quickly realized, for me to be able to document him at his work station, as is, and without posing him and moving anything, I had to engaged him in a conversation, as I took images. I did so and he openned up.

his chapos were not always as soft and as delicious as they are now…they would break like biscuit…he laughs as he remembers…

next up he starts preparing steamed cabbage…

he receives a phone call and I give him some privacy…

we continue with our conversations as he cooks…

next up is beef stew…

he seasons it with salt…

and soy sauce…

orders were coming in and his phone could barely stop ringing…

at this point I am salivating…

the highlight of the day was making of ugali. For this he had to put his meko (cooking stove ) on the floor!

writing this blog just made me hungry!

He goes to the front to have a conversation with the early morning regulars

next up is sukuma wiki

ready to serve his dish…( steamed cabbage beef stew and chapo) if you are not fancy chapo beef stew na cabbage.

Dominic jokingly tells me that he has never gone to any cooking school to be a chef or a business school to run his business.

I went in to take images but the conversations we had, left me encourage and challanged.

Dominic knows his stuff!

Madaraka day at Nairobi national park

On 1st June 2020 we took a drive to Nairobi national park and the queue to get into the park was like nothing I have ever seen.

a ranger doing patrol.

Ticketing was so efficient I was amazed. Taking into account, the health risk of covid-19

We got into the park excited to see wildlife. We drove to this junction and the skyline of Nairobi was hard to resist.

We drove for hours looking for wildlife. The many vehicles in the park caused the wildlife to retreat to areas only extreme 4 x 4 could access.

so I decided to document Nairobi skyline as seen from the park

We decided to call it a day and on our way out only managed to get this image

Tree growing at PAC University

Pan African Christian University (PAC University) teamed up with Miti Alliance and Earth Guys to grow 100 indigenous trees at their Roysambu campus. Despite the chilly weather, volunteers showed up early with excitement to grow trees!

Micheal of Miti Alliance

PAC university student

Githinji of Earth Guys

Deputy vice chancellor of PAC University giving a brief to the volunteers.

Micheal demonstrates how to plant a tree.

DVC of PAC University working together with students!

Transport for the day

The idea was to involve the students, so that, they may influence their peers in other universities, to replicate tree growing in their institutions and neighborhoods. An audit will be conducted on the 100 indigenous trees planted on this day after one year or so to evaluate the growth rate.

Becky School Center Kibera part 3

Little hearts of Africa who have been partnering with Becky School for some time now.
On this day, the pupils of Becky school were taken on a road trip, destination. Animal orphanage Nairobi National Park
To feel and experience a different world... to show the kids that there is a life out of the slums of Kibera

That they can dream for better opportunities, and as long as the sun rise and sets their dreams are as valid as anyone else. 

gari ya moshi…ina enda sana…

Come! lets go see the leopard…

monkey business

Lunch time yeeiii…the kids thought we were going back to school immediately after this. We had other plans. They were in for a treat… proper Fries, proper fried chicken thighs and soda not forgetting face painting!…to this kids, this was a “holy” meal…a special day!

The candy man…should I say…sauce guy

Becky School Center and Little hearts of Africa left a beautiful mark in the hearts and memory of these kids. They will forever remember this day for the rest of their days.

Becky School Center Kibera part 2

On Wednesday Becky School was privileged to host Garden of Hope Foundation and Earth Guys for hand washing and tree planting exercise respectively.

In the morning hours, Earth Guys led us in tree planting as Garden of Hope Foundation staff joined in on the fun.

Haggai of Earth Guys

Photographer David Julius went far and beyond during this tree planting exercise…

Lucy of Garden of Hope Foundation demonstrating to the kids on how to wash their hands

We then headed out to wash our hands

I cant wait for my turn…

Leading the kids in a word of prayer before having lunch

…and after washing our hands it was time for lunch and some catching up... (a girls thing)

Becky School Center Kibera

On 22nd July 2018 Becky School Center alongside Little Hearts of Africa made home visit of its students to have an understanding where they come from, literally! The purpose of the visit was for us to understand, their day to day, and with that understanding, it will help give, a basis of how to interact and teach the kids when they come to school... I wish more schools would do this, regardless of their location and or capacity, not only in Kenya but around the globe.   

Little of Hearts of Africa spent the entire week with Becky School Center,and I was humbled to have been contacted to documented their stay. To God be all the glory!

and so it begins...

Becky School head girl entertaining guests at her humble home

to the next home

The simuyus

Monday

Becky being welcomed...

Mary receiving Steve

Mary receiving Becky

A family that prays together stays together

A prayer so passionately

time for some dance

After some fun, it was time to dive in to some learning. A simpler way to teach math...

Becky school chef 

Break time...yei!

The quality and creativity of learning at Becky School is Just amazing

Lunch time...

after we had lunch,we went to the field to play some tennis...

A day well spent

Book day in Ukambani

We got an invite from our friend Tina, to attend a Book Day event  in Ukambani (Machakos County Kenya), that was being hosted by Kenya Connect. Kenya Connect is a learning resource centre in Wamunyu, that supports education in the rural areas of Ukambani. This space, was created for students and teachers, to come and learn about 21st century resources and methods...and boy! They do it well! What is also amazing about this space is, its fully solar powered.

Laura D. and Bridget

Bridget a visiting elementary teacher with James the co-founder

Students presenting a Kamba fork song

Tina and Laura C. joined in the fun

Story time by Laura Cater

Time to have some fun

This was my first encounter with this e-learning Kio kit

Homeschooling community was well represented

the kit by BRCK

This blew my mind

Time for some art work

Armed with a lollipop and a pencil the fun had not stopped it had only began

Nairobi Primary School - Tree planting

Earth guys,were at it,once again. This time, we were at Nairobi Primary School to plant more trees. At any given time, there was only the four of us , two digging holes, while the other two, planted the trees. Here we were, thinking it would be a 1 hour thing, it actually took us over 5 hours to complete.I am glad to report that, we planted 100 trees.

I cant begin to tell you, how much fun and laughter, we had, planting trees under the scorching sun. At some point, we were almost loosing our breath out of laughter.

Girls doing their thing

A saturday well spent!

Tree planting with Earth Guys

It was just about Easter and I had no plans for good Friday. Victor a good friend of us (my wife and I) invited me to a tree planting event that, Earth guys (environmental conservation project by a team of young Christian professionals) had planned to have in Pumwani , Nairobi.  Tree planting is one of those things, I feel strongly about,and I obliged. I was so impressed by how the planning, and execution of this event was carried out. It was a job well done! this is how it went down.

Started at Starehe Boys Centre

It was time to cross over to the other side of Starehe Boys centre

Up we went...

and right away, we got into it...

We then headed to Pumwani Boys secondary school...

The students joined in...

Earth guys

Talking to the boys on how to take care of the trees...

then to Pumwani Girls secondary school...