One of the toughest decision I had to make in 2016 picking this assignment. Let me give you context  Oxfam Gb got in touch about this assignment and booked me, after a long dry spell of no jobs. A week down the line I got picked for Safaricom, This is my Kenya challenge. As fate would have it, time frame for the shoot, was on collision course with the other one,  both were 10day shoots. I absolutely love the uncertainty and freedom that the Capture Kenya challenge offers.

I struggled to make this decision, whether to turn down Safaricom or Oxfam GB. I love the challenge of this is my Kenya and the pay is considerably better. However, I sat back and thought, at the end of the day my word is my bond, and this is what I have to stand for. We have different things we go through in life, but the question is what defines you as a person? For me its my word.

The Oxfam shoot was great, of course it had its challenges, but turned out to be great eye opener. For this first first part, we follow the story of Jane Muthoni, who lives in Kawangware. She is the chair lady of a Shining mothers, a table banking group that helps women in her neighbourhood save and be able to better their lives economically.

 

Jane Muthoni(right), leader of Shining Mothers with Diana Perpetua(Left) and Joyce Juma, making tapestries and bags at her home in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Shining Mothers during a table banking meeting at Jane’s house, Kawangware, Kenya. Table banking is a savings and loan program where they are able to collect money as a group and bank it.

Shining Mothers during a table banking meeting at Jane’s house, Kawangware, Kenya. Table banking is a savings and loan program where they are able to collect money as a group and bank it.

They also make Tapestry as one of their income generating platforms.

By the roadside in Kawangware, Josephine Njeri,38 and Jane Muthoni, 50, sell their homemade goods, Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Shining Mothers group members, a community based women’s group helping to teach business skills and raise awareness of their rights. Left to right: Top row, Joyce Juma, 35, Diana Perpetuar, 29, Esther joane, 29. Bottom Row; Jane Muthoni, 50, Mary Kwamboka, 26, Josephine Njeri, 38. Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya. 2016

 

At the end of the busy day she still makes time to go pick her son and walk him home.

John, son of Jane Muthoni, in class in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Jane Muthoni,50, leader of the Shining mothers – a community women’s group – collecting her son John from school in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Jane Muthoni,50, leader of the Shining mothers – a community women’s group – collecting her son John from school in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Jane Muthoni,50, leader of the Shining mothers – a community women’s group – with her son John walking home from school in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

Jane Muthoni,50, leader of the Shining mothers – a community women’s group – with her son John walking home from school in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya 2016

She brings up valid points and questions about Tax injustice between the poor and the rich in Kenya. The video team did a better job at telling this story than I did. You can watch the video here.