RUKANGA BASKET WEAVERS

Storage Basket Weavers

Rukanga is a group of 58 weavers who live in a dry, arid part of southeastern Kenya, just two hours from the coast. With limited ability to farm, these weavers rely on basket weaving as their main source of income. 

Beatrice Achia

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Beatrice is 31 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has three daughters.

 

Catherine Chao

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Catherine is 51 years old and has been weaving for 19 years. She has five children.

 

Christine Tulia Anjala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Christine is 38 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children.

Clerah Wasai

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Clerah is 46 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children.

Daphine Gombe

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Daphine is 50 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has 4 children. 

Difence Nose

Rukanga Basket Weavers 

Dorcus Nzighe

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Dorcas is 36 years old and has been weaving for five years. She has five children. 

Doris Wakesho

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Doris is 50 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has two children.

 

Dorothy Wakesho Kimweri

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Dorothy is 57 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has three children.

 

Elina Mughambi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Elina is 76 years old and has been weaving for two years (she is known for fine-weave weaving!). She has one daughter. 

Elizabeth Mkangemi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Elizabeth is 41 years old and has been weaving for seven years. She has five children.

 

Emily Wanjala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Emily is 45 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has six children.

 

Esther Majala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Esther is 40 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has four children.

 

Eunice Manga

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Eunice is 33 years old and has been weaving for six years. She has five children.

 

Eunice Shali

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Eunice is 30 years old and has been weaving for two years. She has two children.

 

Florence Achia

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Florence is 47 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children.

 

Florence Wambugu

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Florence is 78 years old and has been weaving for one year. She has two daughters.

 

Florence Wawasi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Florence is 40 years old and has been weaving for seven years. She has three boys.

 

Francisca Mughoi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Francisco is 60 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children.

 

Gladness Anjala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Gladness is 37 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children.

 

Gladys Mrunde

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Gladys is 61 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has five children.

Gladys Mwake

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Gladys is 41 years old and has been weaving for seven years. She has six children.

Grace Wughanga Alongu

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Grace doesn't know her exact age but has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

Hannah Charles

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Hannah is 43 years old and has been weaving for four years. She is a single mom to two daughters.

 

Hannah Manga

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Hannah is 46 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four children (one is a member of the group!) and she is the Chairwoman of Rukanga.

 

Hendrita Shangawi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Hendrita is 52 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

 

Jane Muthoki

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Jane is 46 years old and has been weaving for one year. She has three children.

 

Joyce Chao Berube

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Joyce is 29 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has two daughters.

 

Joyce Chao Mukura

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Joyce is 27 years old and has been weaving for five years. She has two children.

 

Joyce Nyasi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Joyce does not know her exact age but has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

Judith Shangari Mwakudua

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Judith is 37 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has three children.

Kezia Mughambi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Kezia is 73 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has nine children.

Lilian Kina

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Lilian is 29 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has five children.

 

 

Luciana Mbuwa

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Luciana is 64 years old and has been weaving for five years. She has six children.

Luciana Zighe

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Luciana is 47 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has six children.

 

Lydiah Wakio

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Lydiah is 45 years old and has been weaving for 14 years. She is a founding member of Rukanga. She has four children.

 

Madline Makalo

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Madline is 55 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has five children.

Margaret Kalakala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Margaret is 42 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has three children.

 

Mariam Mwabara

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Mariam is 36 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has three children.

 

Mary Wambugha

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Mary is 35 years old and has been weaving for three years. She has three children. 

Matildah Sezi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Matilda is 29 years old and has been weaving for one year. She has four children.

 

 

Mercy Kajomba

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Mercy is 73 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

 

Miriam Zighe

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Miriam is 84 years old and has been weaving for seven years. She is happy about weaving because she can use the income to buy necessary medications for an eye issue. She has five children.

 

Phenny Mwangada

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Phenny is 65 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has eight children.

 

Rachel Zighe

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Rachel is 49 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has four children and is the Treasurer of Rukanga.

 

Rose Machocho

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Rose is 63 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She is a single mother to one daughter.

 

Rose Wawuda

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Rose is 73 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

 

Roseline Zainabu

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Roseline is 44 years old and has been weaving for 10 years. She has four daughters.

 

Selestina Mkanjala

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Selestina is 59 years old and has been weaving more than 10 years. She is a founding member of Rukanga. She has three daughters.

 

Selina Mbale Mumo

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Selestina is 29 years old and has been weaving for three  years. She has one daughter.

 

Selina Sezi

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Selina is 50 years old and has been weaving more than 10 years. She has seven children.

Sophia Mkaluma

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Sophia is 34 years old and has been weaving for two years. She has two daughters.

Tabitha Mwangano

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Tabitha is 56 years old and has been weaving for more than 10 years. She has seven children.

 

Vailet Chugha

Rukanga Basket Weavers

Vailet is 44 years old and has been weaving for 14 years. She has five children.