Jenga Mama: Programme changing lives of women in Kajiado stitch by stich

On a bright sunny afternoon in Kimana town, Kajiado County, the once-fiery rays of the sun mellow into a warm golden glow. Inside a modest 12-by-8-foot fashion design shop, Esther Semeyian is fully engrossed in her work, racing against time to finish a client’s order.

She is one of four women working in the compact space, each with her own electric sewing machine and shelves stacked with personal supplies. A shared ironing area sits on one side, while two manual sewing machines stand at the entrance—on standby for power outages, which are not uncommon in the area.

Her journey here has been anything but easy. After getting pregnant in Form 2, her future looked bleak. With no formal education, a child to care for, and little family support, marriage seemed the only option—an escape route that has led many young girls from her community into lives of struggle and despair.

Yet, Semeyian hails from a region that is the envy of the world—a humble village in Oloitokitok, near the Kenya-Tanzania border, nestled at the foot of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. On a clear day, the snow-capped peak of Africa’s tallest mountain, towering at 5,895 meters, is visible from her home.

Her village lies within the expansive Amboseli ecosystem, a woodland savannah teeming with wildlife—gazelles, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, and a variety of bird species. The surrounding community conservancies, which complement Amboseli National Park’s 394 km², are essential to the region’s biodiversity.

“Amboseli is so small. It cannot survive without these community conservancies,” explains Guyo Adhi, a conservation expert with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Thousands of tourists visit the area each year, drawn by the majestic landscapes and roaming wildlife. Yet, for the communities living here, life can be harsh—especially for young women facing the triple threat of early pregnancy, child marriage, and lack of employable skills.

Semeyian’s turning point came in 2024, when she joined the Jenga Mama initiative, launched by IFAW. The programme seeks to rescue and empower women from conservation areas by equipping them with vocational training and entrepreneurial support.

Through Jenga Mama, Semeyian enrolled at Namelok Vocational Training Institute, where she studied Fashion and Design. Motivated by a desire to rewrite her story, she excelled and graduated among the top of her class.

With IFAW’s support, Semeyian and three other graduates opened the Jenga Mama Fashion House in Kimana town. By sharing the space, they are able to reduce operational costs and support one another both personally and professionally.

“If you have a problem—whether personal or work-related—you can always ask your friend for help,” says Semeyian.

“Through this work, I can support my child and also help my parents back at home,” she adds, her face lighting up with pride.

Her dream is to expand the business and eventually stand on her own, growing the Jenga Mama Fashion House into a full-fledged brand.

During our visit, we were joined by members of the Kenya-Chinese Women Association (KCWA), a group of long-term residents in Kenya who are deeply aware of the challenges faced by women in Maasai communities.

Moved by the initiative’s impact, KCWA partnered with IFAW to further support the women by donating sewing machines and offering mentorship.

“We know it’s very hard for Maasai women without an income. Sometimes it’s even difficult to get Ksh.10 from their husbands,” said Sherry Xie, Vice Chairlady of KCWA.

KCWA is also working to help the women improve the quality of their products and explore new markets.

“Maasai traditional garments and souvenirs are highly recognizable and in demand globally—but they must meet international quality standards,” Sherry explains.

She calls on the government and tourism stakeholders to consider establishing a permanent, world-class tourism collection market in Nairobi.

“Maasai is good, but what we have now is not permanent and not big enough,” she adds.

Thanks to initiatives like Jenga Mama and partnerships with groups like KCWA, women like Semeyian are not only transforming their own lives but also preserving their culture and protecting the natural ecosystem that surrounds them.