Avocado Seedlings Take Root as Women Power Embu's Economic Revival

Ken Java Mwaniki Wakagoto addressing residents at Karigari in Manyatta, Embu county.MWINGI TIMES|Brian Musyoka

More than 100 women groups in Gaturi South Ward, Manyatta Sub-county, are now charting a new economic path after receiving avocado seedlings through the Wakagoto Foundation, a move designed to turn small farms into sustainable sources of income.

For many of the beneficiaries, the seedlings represent more than just a crop; they symbolize long-term wealth creation, offering a high-value agribusiness opportunity in a region where farming is the mainstay of livelihoods.

The women were also issued with tents, enabling them to formalize their group activities, hold organized meetings, and market their produce more effectively, strengthening their collective bargaining power.

By investing in avocado farming, the foundation is tapping into a crop with growing local and international demand, positioning women farmers to earn better returns and stabilize household incomes.

With guaranteed access to markets, the women are no longer at the mercy of middlemen, as the initiative focuses on linking farmers directly to buyers and value chains that reward quality and consistency.

The empowerment drive comes at a time when rising living costs continue to strain households, making income diversification through high-value crops both timely and necessary.

Beyond agribusiness, the initiative is part of a wider community intervention that saw over 20,000 families receive Christmas support, offering relief and reaffirming the foundation’s people-centred approach to development.

To further unlock markets and ease trade, the Wakagoto Foundation rolled out the Dubai–Kagumori–Karingari road, a critical infrastructure project expected to improve transportation and open up economic opportunities across Gaturi South Ward.

Improved road access means faster delivery of farm inputs and produce, reduced post-harvest losses, and better connectivity between farmers and markets.

The women empowerment programme is anchored in the Embu Industrial Revolution – Vision 2035, spearheaded by entrepreneur Kenjava Mwaniki Wakagoto, which seeks to transform Embu into a thriving industrial hub.

Under the vision, more than 100 industries are projected to be established, each employing at least 500 young people, ensuring that agricultural productivity feeds directly into industrial growth.

“Our people are industrious farmers and they must get value for their proceeds. I have a ready market for milk and avocado so that our purchasing power can increase,” noted Wakagoto, underscoring a future where women-led farming fuels Embu’s economic transformation.