Margaret, visiting Namibia First Lady tour Kazuri beads factory

Namibian President Hage Geingob signs a visitors book at the State Pavilion on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for a State visit on October 19, 2018. With him are Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos (second right), Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma (second left) and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko (left). PHOTO | KNA

What you need to know:

  • First Ladies interacted with the over 340 employees of the factory, mostly single mothers who earn their living making items that include necklaces, bracelets and earrings
  • The two have shared interests in the welfare of women and youth especially on matters of health and economic empowerment

Visiting Namibia First Lady Monica Geingos and her Kenyan counterpart Margaret Kenyatta on Friday toured Kazuri Beads factory in Nairobi that specialises in the empowerment of disadvantaged women who make ceramic jewellery and pottery for export.

The two First Ladies interacted with the over 340 employees of the factory, mostly single mothers who earn their living making items that include necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

More than 75 per cent of Kazuri products target the international market especially the US and European countries.

SHARED INTERESTS

Kazuri Beads Senior Supervisor John Kimani guided the two First Ladies through various workshop areas and the factory shop to view the finished products.

Inside one of the factories, the women broke into song and dance as they gave the visiting First Ladies a dignified welcome.

The two have shared interests in the welfare of women and youth especially on matters of health and economic empowerment.

Ms Kenyatta has a keen interest in the health of mothers, children and adolescents through her Beyond Zero initiative and conservation work while Ms Geingos is the founder of One Economy Foundation’s “Be Free Movement”, a youth-driven programme, which concerns itself with the challenges holding young people back from reaching their potential.

TALENTED CHILDREN

The Namibian First Lady is also the initiator of the One Nation Fund which provides micro business owners access to collateral free loans, entrepreneurial training and mentorship.

Additionally, Ms Geingos, a trained lawyer, is the founder of the Talented Individual Programme, an educational fellowship which provides talented children from low income families the opportunity to access quality education through the  provision of financial and psychosocial support.

She is also the UNAids Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls.

The 43-year-old Kazuri Beads factory was founded by the late Mark Newman and his wife Regina.