The drive from the city of Nairobi into the countryside of Limuru is a sensory experience. With one turn, the lanes of a newly expanded highway reveal a lush vision that quiets our conversation. Grey skies and cool weather greet us as we wind our way through the suburb of Tigoni. July is Kenya’s winter season. But even with its chilly temperatures, this area is known for fertile ground—a biodiversity hotspot with mineral-rich soil. Tea leaves sprout in abundance here, first introduced to Kenya in the 1920s. The land was cleared for the endeavor and tea farms now span as far as the eye can see. Acres of green peaks and valleys dot the horizon.

As we near our destination, the faint sound of hammering can be heard in the distance. A new project, known as the Rewildings, was started over a year ago. The architecture group builds sustainable housing for communal living, creating spaces where people and nature coexist. With a focus on high-quality, natural materials, thoughtful design, and detailed craftsmanship, these homes will form the basis of an environmentally conscious residential community that seeks to return 10 acres of land to its original state. They have removed much of the tea and replaced it with indigenous trees. The site that we see lays the groundwork for one of seven residential structures built within the impending forest, each one tailored to the terrain and characteristics of their plot.

The intentionality of the Rewildings community extends beyond physical standards. It also influences their approach to materials sourcing and hiring practices. It is here that we meet Teresia Njeri, a former baker and mother of two. With a playful demeanor and sly smile, the 29-year-old exhibits a good-natured spirit as we are introduced at the construction site. Her focus remains steady despite our presence. Carpentry is Teresia’s craft, one that she executes with great attention. She wields a drill with expert form, stopping periodically to reference the site’s blueprint. “We are building homes that are 100% made from timber—from scratch—start to finish,” she explains. It is a process that she cherishes with satisfaction; the payoff is worth it. “What I enjoy most about what I do is seeing the project from start to finish. Seeing the final product, seeing the piece that I've made, and the hard work that I've put in come to completion.”

Teresia is not alone. She is joined by other tradeswomen on this site where they are in the majority, a rare occurrence in the construction industry. Some of the women work alongside her to reinforce the foundation against the damp fog and mist, while others cut timber in a tarped structure a few feet away. Kenya doesn't have a tradition of building in full timber construction, so two master craftsmen from the UK are guiding the project, working exclusively with an all female team. Also on site is John Paul Muwanika, one of the Rewildings’ design engineers who has since transitioned into the role of project manager.

As the rain briefly lets up, Teresia tells us that she began carpentry only three years ago. She and her peers are alumni of a Nairobi-based program called Buildher, a technical training facility for women artisans in Kenya. She was introduced to the program by her former employer in the bakery, never imagining that she would eventually become a carpenter. Most women on construction sites perform work like cleaning, carrying water, or clearing debris. Technical tasks are usually carried out by men. But Teresia began paying attention to the experience and quality of work she received any time she needed a home repair. “I could hire a carpenter to do the work for me, but it ends up terrible,” she says. “Now, I do it myself since I know the details and how I want it to be done.”

A growing number of Kenyans recognize that with the right training, women can establish fruitful careers in all manners of construction, especially as the need for fundis (Swahili for skilled workers) continues to increase. Having been involved with the Rewildings project from the beginning, John Paul shares that they chose Buildher specifically to handle the construction. “We wanted to work with companies that are keen on inclusivity. Because we believe our industry is not just about building—we have to have a meaningful impact on society,” he says. “Buildher came to mind since I had worked with them previously. It was a no-brainer. The first time I worked with them was back in 2019 when they were just starting the first cohort. They did an amazing job and they've just built on that to become better.”

The streets of Nairobi’s Baba Dogo Road are lined with vendors of every kind. They sell anything you might need: fresh fruits, grilled meats, electronics, laundry service. Buildher houses their training facilities in a warehouse business park off this main road. It is a prime location as many of the trainees in the program live in Korogocho, a neighborhood just a short walk away.

Buildher currently occupies around eight of the warehouse spaces. Aside from their main office and orientation building, they have separate spaces for training participants in three areas of study: carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, and tiling. The layout feels a bit like a college campus, with each space a classroom designed for the unique needs of that particular track. During our visit, trainees in the carpentry studio gather around work tables to learn the basics of hand sawing by lead instructor Anthony Gitau. One trainee in particular tries to cut her sample wood block, but keeps getting a crooked cut. After seeking advice from Anthony, she slows her pace on the saw, patiently moving the blade back and forth until she finally gets a clean break. It’s an unexpected joy to witness her achievement, especially after learning that she is beginning the process from scratch. This cohort has been in the program for just two weeks, and for many of them it is their first time handling these tools.

Tatu Gatere, who co-founded Buildher in 2019, is used to seeing women build. She grew up watching her grandmother build a home for her family in Kenya and went on to study architecture in the United States and South Africa. “In every place I lived it was exciting to see the number of women in architecture growing across continents,” she says. “There was more gender integration in that field. But when I went onto construction sites and was checking on projects, assessing the quality design standards, I would notice that the number of women [on building sites] was not rising to what we were seeing in architecture.” The observation sparked the vision for Buildher, and incorporating more women in this part of the building process was especially important to scale in Nairobi.

“I lived abroad for 11 years and it was interesting to see how in this global age there's still a very limited understanding of the lifestyle and possibilities of Africa,” Tatu shares. “Yes, we have conditions of poverty, but there's also so much opportunity. Sixty percent of the city is underprivileged and they don't have access to a lot of the resources and opportunities that are coming up with globalization and economic development. It's wonderful to be a part of a program that can shift access and visibility, being able to support a population that is often cut out of opportunities. Being a part of women participating in the development of their city is awesome and being a part of a conversation on distribution of resources—I love that part in particular.”

The possibilities Tatu mentions feel abundant; a quick glance around Nairobi shows development everywhere. From new apartment buildings to enhanced roadways to hand-painted advertisements for local businesses, the landscape is expanding and hands are needed, fast. But with the increased demand local employers are having trouble finding skilled workers. Given the choice to pursue different routes of education, a growing number of Kenyans eschew labor-intense roles in favor of other careers.

“We don’t really have good capitals [workers] in Kenya because a lot of people don’t go for these technical courses that require hands-on experience,” explains John Paul. “Those who score high in school prefer to do courses like engineering, but you don’t have people who actually do things like plumbing, carpentry, fixing. So getting good men and women you can work with is a challenge.”

While only 3% of Kenya’s construction sector is currently represented by women, Buildher’s program narrows that gap in the market. Their presence in Nairobi is considerable given their start just five years ago. Buildher’s signature coveralls—navy blue with teal embroidery and reflective stripes—are easy to spot as artisans fill work placements throughout the city. They have been involved in commercial properties and residential projects alike. Aside from Tigoni, program alumni also support new construction in Tatu City, a mixed-use development about 25 minutes outside of Nairobi.

The program leverages construction as a platform for women to participate in the development of their city, while ensuring Kenya’s voice in a global conversation. “Working on integrating women in construction is not an Africa problem. It's a global problem,” says Tatu. “The population of women in construction in America I think is 10%. It's not that big. So we're talking about a problem that extends across Europe and Africa and unites us.” Considering that one of the first builders Tatu saw growing up was a woman, it seems that the continent could set an example for the rest of the world on the capabilities of women in construction, even as it wrestles with the fact that women working in this field is not exactly a modern idea.

“I think [Buildher’s] biggest impact has been showing that women can and want to do this work,” Tatu reflects. “I think it is very interesting that Africa has forgotten that the first construction workers were women. So we act like we're doing something new when actually we are returning to what we used to, how we used to function as society.”

Much like the Rewildings project is doing with the land in Tigoni, Buildher is returning the landscape of construction to a balance it once held.

Making the vision of Buildher a reality requires a multi-pronged approach, one that begins with and centers the participants. The program serves a range of women from low-income backgrounds—many between the ages of 18 and 50—by providing free tuition for the year-long training. They’ve even boasted a 63-year-old graduate from the carpentry and joinery track who became a mother figure to everyone in the program. She now desires to train women in her home country on construction. Her determination affirms that anyone is able to join if they meet the income criteria and, crucially, exhibit the will to learn an entirely new field.

Buildher’s program is designed to transform participants from novices to skilled workers in two years. In the first six months participants engage at the “trainee level” where they receive background knowledge for their chosen track alongside practical application and on-site internships. The programs are led by instructors with decades of experience in the industry, educators who relish the details of quality work and sharing their expertise as much as they do seeing women earn a living for themselves. “That is my biggest aim,” says Anthony. “That every person that passes through me becomes a professional. Once someone trains in carpentry, there’s a future for you. There’s jobs!”

That belief and a solid support system, combined with the income collected from weekend internships, becomes a launch pad of growth for the following six months. The latter half of the year sees trainees enter the “artisan level,” a job placement program where they transition into skilled gigs throughout the local economy. Buildher is rigorous about their training standards, constantly researching the industry’s best practices and latest innovations because they want to be sure that the women are able to hold their own on any job site.

Joyce Muthoni, an interior designer and the organization’s Workforce Development Lead, is passionate as she expresses their outlook. “When we understand quality assurance and what the industry demands, we ensure that the same is brought back into our training,” she says. “So constantly, what keeps me up is to know, ‘What does the industry demand?’ That’s my job: to be curious to know the new innovations and trends so that we ensure that as we prepare women for the industry they are aligning with exactly what is being demanded and more.”

Once participants gain industry knowledge, are certified in training, and have spent time on job sites around the city, they are ready to step out on their own. This represents the “alumnae level” of Buildher’s process, a year-long portion where participants enter the job search with access to the organization’s network of over 75 employee partners. While the women are not automatically placed in a role (they must still inquire if the employer has positions available and go through the interview process), the network is a starting point and can lead to long-term employment.

This was the case for tradeswoman painter Melvine Khanali. She is an early graduate of Buildher and has been employed with Kenyan developer Unity Homes for three years. The company’s latest site, Tatu City, is a sprawling community with fresh cut grass, basketball courts, and a mix of single-family homes and condominiums. Thanks to the handiwork of artisans like Melvine, the development appears bright and cozy with its modern design. Much like Teresia, Melvine marvels at the transformation of a space. Going from bare walls to furnished apartment is accomplished through the work of her hands.

We are first introduced in an unfinished two-bedroom apartment where Melvine and Rosebella Kasuvo Guya, another Buildher alum, skim the walls in preparation for the fresh coats of paint they will apply next week. They are all smiles in smudged uniforms, maneuvering their ladders to ensure all spots are covered. As we move on to tour a newly finished model home that the pair has worked on, Melvine shares that she is studying to be a safety officer. This new goal is directly inspired by her time as a painter with Unity Homes, learning to care for the health and safety of others. Thinking about the journey of an artisan from trainee to alumni, I’m curious what motivates her to keep pursuing new heights. “It’s the three B’s,” she says. “If you believe, then you behave, and you automatically become.”

Tatu City is built by crews of men and women working side by side. There are also women in leadership positions, overseeing quality control, among other tasks. As with Tigoni, it is a refreshing sight to see. But Omar Ali Osman, the supervisor for the development’s premier properties called Unity Silver, is not surprised. “It’s not unusual here at Unity Homes to have women both working as artisans but also in supervisory roles,” he shares. They have worked with Buildher artisans in the past, where Omar previously onboarded three alumni for various projects. The experience and numbers on site have grown, albeit with some friction.

“We treat our artisans equally, but the truth is, starting was not easy,” he says. “When we were onboarding ladies as artisans, it was not a smooth ride because there was that impression that ladies can’t do it. The other [male] fundis didn’t want to be paired with a lady because they were dragging the team. The ladies had to prove themselves. It was true that some ladies were dragging the team behind. But there were others who were performing [well], actually doing better than their male counterparts.”

The issue persisted for some time, but eventually emphasized for everyone that quality of work will always shine through. “It was not about the lady, it was about the person,” Omar notes. “If you qualify, you get on board. So if this lady has beat you in applying this application, you have no grounds to reject working with her. With time, they learned to accept it. Now, if they complain ‘I don’t want to work with a particular person because they’re slowing me down,’ gender is not an issue.”

It is clear that the many hours of training Buildher requires are foundational, as they produce a cycle of awareness and ability. Upon participating, the women are equipped and encouraged by learning from industry veterans who themselves represent the kind of job stability that construction can offer. And though their gender may still incur initial bias when they first enter the field, it is their work and mindset that have the final say.

Women working in construction also face a lack of consideration in the design of work sites. Diversifying the workforce requires change, but some employers are slow to embrace this need. Whether it is offering personal protective equipment in smaller sizes, ensuring there are separate bathrooms, or allocating adequate space for women to change on site, the modifications ultimately benefit more than women. They move towards creating a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.

Buildher’s headquarters lead the charge in this kind of thoughtful design. On the bottom floor of their main warehouse are designated rooms for nursing mothers, the walls outfitted with empowering mantras on motherhood and career. It becomes another training opportunity, one that allows women to embrace their full selves on this new path. It’s what the alumni want employers to know. “People employing women as skilled personnel should consider that being both a woman and a fundi is not easy,” Teresia asserts. “So they should give them real support and encouragement and back them up. It is about something other than the muscle to do the work; it is about being smart and using your brain to undertake the task.”

In a labor-intense field, the uniqueness of Buildher is its commitment to coach in both mindset and technical skill. Their holistic approach prioritizes wraparound care and mental clarity that sustains participants throughout their career. How often are construction workers given space to learn about nutrition, healthy diets for feeding their families, the importance of sleep, or how yoga and physical fitness impacts bodily flexibility and stress? These are all covered in Buildher’s first week of training.

New participants tend to enter Buildher a bit shy. For some, it can be difficult to even stand and introduce themselves to their cohort. But something shifts as they learn a new skill set—they gain confidence, becoming aware of their needs and ability to voice them.

Buildher did not initially offer aspects of mental health coaching but “over the years, women’s demands of the program have helped shape who we are today,” says Tatu. Many participants come from backgrounds of trauma and are unsure how to navigate self-efficacy, so they asked Buildher for help on adjusting to changing opportunities. “We often forget that empowerment brings its own set of problems. So we had to provide support to help women prepare for that new way of living, new way of thinking, new access to economic opportunities,” she explains.

A symbiotic relationship with community partners has proven vital in shepherding women through that transition of empowerment. One such partner is Amazing Women, a non-profit organization led by Executive Director Caroline Machira. Caroline has spent her life advocating for the betterment of the women around her, first working for a community program that served women who were HIV positive, and then later supporting maternal health. Now, through Amazing Women, she connects women to any number of economic, health, and safety resources. They are based in and serve the settlement of Githurai, a community that rests on the border of Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

“Having worked with women for so long, I found that women face a lot of challenges compared to men because the whole responsibility to raise a family it’s on the women here,” Caroline explains. “You find the women and they are the ones who are providing for the family: what to eat… paying bills, and they are the ones that are paying rent.”

The responsibility falls on a range of women in Githurai, including single and teenage mothers, and some married women. Caroline explains that for women in Githurai entrepreneurship is a matter of necessity as they seek to take care of their families. Amazing Women offers resources like microloans for existing businesses and introduces women to new ventures, including dressmaking. Through the partnership with Buildher, Amazing Women has encouraged many women to seek construction work as a stable means of income. There is still hesitancy around these jobs, as it subverts what people in the community are used to seeing women do, but due to her years of work in the community and the trust she’s built Caroline’s voice helps soothe doubts or resistance.

When Daniel Gachcu’s wife told him she wanted to join Buildher he first went to speak with Caroline in the Amazing Women office to learn more about the program. Gachcu is the owner of a local bike repair shop where his wife often assists him with the work, one of the reasons she thought carpentry would be worth pursuing. Daniel and his wife have a one-year-old daughter, and because of his wife’s new training schedule, he now takes care of their daughter during the day. It can be a challenge, but “[we’re] hoping the training can help support and sustain our family,” he says.

After gaining family support the women must also figure out how to get to the Buildher headquarters. It takes about 15 minutes by car to get to Baba Dogo but because the area is densely populated, the ride is much longer on public transportation and costs 200 Kenyan shillings ($1.55USD) per day. That is equivalent to the average amount a worker in Kenya earns in wages and can be a large commitment for women undertaking the training.

Access to secure jobs is important, but it is really only one step of the process. Taking on that new role can flip the familiar routine of someone’s life. Both the individual and their families must commit to the training as they seek long-term gains.

For the last six years, over 600 Buildher graduates have come to see the sacrifice as a worthy one.

Flora Olwaya walks for 15 minutes each day from her home in Korogocho to the Buildher studio. After changing into her coveralls, she gets to work sawing, sanding, and finishing any number of dining room tables, accent chairs, and mattress frames. She and five other alumni are employed by Buildher to create stunning home furnishings. The furniture is sold through the Buildher Shop, a new sales funnel that brings quality goods to market while showcasing the expertise of Buildher’s programming. It also marks an inroad to working directly with homeowners, as customers can schedule appointments to visit the shop’s showroom space in Baba Dogo.

Flora is a quiet and exacting craftswoman. Her work elevates carpentry to an artform and can be described as redemptive—a creative pursuit toward wholeness. “I love using the small waste pieces of wood since I can make something new from those pieces that can be sold or marketed,” she shares. “I do joinery with all my passion because you repair the broken pieces by joining them. The more I join them, the more I remember my past life since I am fixing my past life.” 

Flora’s journey to the craft began in Korogocho, where she made her living washing clothes for people in the surrounding village. “It was very difficult for someone to convince me that one day I could become a skilled person,” she remembers. “As I washed clothes, I used to pass through a lot of problems since I could not take my children to school, I could not pay my rent, and I was among the weak in society since I had no say.” Her experience was punctuated by the lack of opportunities for mobility where, “in the current world, if you have no career you have no life. Once you have a career as a woman, you will be respected.” 

She heard about Buildher through her village and took a chance on herself by showing up for an interview at the organization’s headquarters. She is now a part of the first group of tradeswomen that graduated Buildher’s training program in 2019. Choosing to train in carpentry has changed her family’s trajectory. School fees are now covered and housing bills are paid on time. Flora says that she is no longer weak in society “because right now I have something to tell them about Buildher.”

As they look to the future, Buildher prepares to serve more women like Flora with the expansion of two new training courses in 2025: solar and electrical, as well as cabinetry. “It’s a really cool experience because the more we add, the more we see women coming to us with a passion for what they want to study,” says Tatu. Their shop remains a persuasive pitch for working with Buildher artisans and the concept has inspired another in-house, entrepreneurial venture: Buildher Fundi Desk. “We are seeing women go into subcontracting, so they are taking on pieces of work independently,” Tatu shares. “As a result of this, we’re launching a platform where we are not only working with contractors; now we are working with clients, homeowners, tenants [and] real estate managers. Meaning we are serving more of society access to skilled, qualified, women workers.” The network is currently being developed into a job access platform.

To date, Buildher has trained 773 women in standard practices for construction and anticipate another 94 will graduate next year upon the completion of cohort 13. The program has an 86% completion rate and 80% average of job placements. The women who participate and continue to pursue construction jobs also receive a hefty increase in income: construction enables them to make almost three times the national average of $2 per day.

Buildher participants construct new futures for themselves and spark economic growth for their communities, all while challenging gender biases in the construction industry. It’s a tall order, but one that the women embrace wholeheartedly through their work.

“I am very happy when a customer comes to buy our furniture since he or she chooses to buy our furniture, which is the best,” Flora shares. “The reason behind my happiness is that he or she will be buying furniture that has been made by women.”