Our Partners
Kitui
Located 100 kilometres east of Nairobi sits the city of Kitui. The name Kitui means “a place where iron goods are made” and was named by the Kamba blacksmiths who settled in the area before the colonial era.
Today, the region is home to skilled artisans who have mastered the art of weaving vibrant decorative baskets and handcrafted bags. Each woven basket is intricately designed to reflect the rich stock and heritage the women are from.
Weaving handmade baskets has been a longstanding tradition among the Kamba women and is deeply engrained in their culture. Grandmothers and mothers sit down with their daughters and tell stories as they teach them how to weave beautiful handcrafted baskets – locally referred to as “Kiondo” bags – using natural resources. Their craftmanship is unmatched.
The Kamba women in the Kitui region are a reflection of many other communities across Kenya. These women, many of whom are widowed or divorced, are the heartbeat of their communities. Their ability to use this revered skill to earn a sustainable living empowers them to better provide for themselves and their children.
Empowering Women and communities in Kenya
For many widowed and divorced women in Kenya, financial strain is almost always eminent. These women have limited opportunities to generate an income, particularly in rural parts of the country. In an effort to support each other, the women within these communities often band together to form a “chama”, an informal social welfare system used to pool money and invest in each other.
By creating opportunities for social enterprise, the women can use their skill to become financially independent.
Quality Handcrafted and Environmentally Friendly
The sisal plant is grown in abundance in various regions across Kenya. Once harvested, fibrous strands from the plant are carefully woven together to create handcrafted bags, decorative baskets and storage baskets.
A basket takes an average of three weeks to complete and is woven by the same artisan from start to finish. Each bag is crafted to perfection by a woman who is weaving a part of her heritage with each strand and delivered from the hand of the artisan right to your home.
In addition to sisal, recycled plastic, banana leaf fibres and other natural resources available locally are used. Then, to enhance the basket, natural powder dyes made from pounded roots, tree bark and other vegetation are used to create colourful vegan baskets and bags.