Kua Nasi

Kua Nasi is Swahili, and it holds two meanings at once: join us, and grow with us. That was the invitation from day one, to buyers first, and to the women artisans who we’d hoped would let us into their craft, communities, homes and by extension  their lives.

Where it all started...

I grew up on the outskirts of Nairobi, watching my mother navigate entrepreneurship although not always as smoothly as one would expect for a woman living in the Capital. Still, as a recently widowed woman by the time I was 12, my mom began to give her time and life to walking and working alongside other women, often widows, single mothers, friends, family, women seeking refuge from difficult circumstances. For her, this mission was nothing formal, nothing registered. She had just committed to being someone who kept showing up for other women, as a connector, a resource-mobiliser in local chamas/women groups, what corporate language might call a stakeholder engagement manager and project coordinator.

In the Kamba language, what she did for her communities is what we call utui. Informal as her work was, its impact was undeniable, and contagious. I grew up inspired and wanting to carry it forward,  with more reach, more structure, and the chance to make it something lasting.

What we bring to you

Every Kua Nasi piece starts with colour. Bold reds, ochres, blues, pulled straight from Ukambani and Samburu, undeniably, colour is our niche, and it's the first thing you'll notice, long before you learn the story behind it or behind any single piece.

We work with Kamba women artisans in Mwala (Machakos) and Kithyoko (Kitui), who hand-weave our sisal kyondos the way their mothers and grandmothers taught them;  slowly, one loop at a time.

 

 

Further north, in Archers Post, Samburu artisans bead our jewellery with the same precision and pride passed down through their own generations.

A modern kyondo with leather trim and a lined interior, or a traditional one in 100% cotton fibre, or  geometric beaded piece — both take days to make. That's not a flaw in the system. It's the whole system.

Made slowly, to last a lifetime.

Why We Tell Our Story

Like some of you, when I set out, I wondered, how would I compassionately and almost accurately tell a story of hardship and beauty without robbing the people behind the story of their dignity. But the deeper I immersed myself into the communities, the more joy and laughter I found. The more passion, commitment and expertise I encountered. Like the vibrant colours of the beadworks and kyondos, these women lived colourful lives, despite often challenging circumstances. 

My mission shifted — from trying to tell a hard story gracefully, to sharing the colour, magic, and treasure I found in the hands of women artisans in rural Kenya. 

Every purchase puts fair pay directly into the hands of the woman who made your piece, empowering her to continue creating, and keeps a centuries-old craft alive for the next generation.

Kenya looks good on you. Please wear it boldly.