Story by Edwin Ngunjiri, Joshua Ondeke | Edited by Job Mwangi
Under the vast skies of Narok North, where the wind whistles secrets through the acacia trees and the land bears scars of seasons both cruel and kind, lives Serah Waithira, a 35-year-old mother of four with fire in her heart and soil under her nails. On her five modest acres in Enabelbel location of Olorrpir Ward, she is not just farming. She is dreaming. She is fighting. She is determined to carve out a lush, sustainable oasis that will nourish her children and awaken hope in her entire community.
But Serah’s journey into conservation didn’t begin with a formal invitation. She wasn’t among the chosen farmers for the Green Belt Movement’s community baraza meetings under the Restore Africa programme. Fate, however, has a way of rewarding the curious. When her group chairperson casually mentioned the conservation meetings happening nearby, Serah’s ears pricked up. She decided to attend the next one, not knowing she was stepping into a story that would change her life forever.
Those gatherings lit a spark that quickly turned into an unquenchable fire. Today, her farm is alive with 270 new seedlings, including fruit trees like avocado and orange, introduced through the Restore Africa programme. Between their leafy promise, she tends thriving rows of tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and beans. But Serah is not one to rest on small victories. Inspired by GBM training, she has already begun germinating seeds for her very own tree nursery, a vision she intends to grow into something grand.
Her story stands out in Narok North, a region battling the harsh consequences of environmental degradation and unpredictable weather. Amid these challenges, Serah’s farm rises like a green banner of defiance, a living testament to what one empowered farmer can achieve.
She joined the Restore Africa programme in 2024, and in less than a year she has not only transformed her land but also planted the seeds of change in her community.
But Serah is more than a farmer. She is a force of nature. Even before GBM could supply seedlings, she was already planting cypress around her home and germinating eucalyptus seeds for her nursery, species not officially supported by the program, but clear proof of her unmatched drive. Her speed, her hunger to act, embodies exactly the spirit GBM strives to ignite in every household it touches.
Today, Serah has become a women’s mobilizer, introducing others to fruit tree farming as a new source of income. She speaks passionately about the medicinal value of indigenous trees, sharing knowledge as generously as she shares seedlings. Neighbours no longer visit her farm quietly; it has become a magnet, turning each visit into an impromptu community gathering where learning, laughter, and hope take root. Serah has become a beacon of conservation and possibility.
Through the Restore Africa programme, GBM did not just teach her climate-resilient farming, tree nursery establishment, and income-generating activities. They gave her the chance to lead. Now she grows more than trees; she grows confidence, knowledge, and community spirit.
Serah’s story is a powerful reminder that climate action is not just about restoring ecosystems; it is about restoring dignity, livelihoods, and hope itself. In her hands, the legacy of Professor Wangari Maathai is very much alive.
“I intend to establish a big tree nursery here after learning the best nursery techniques from GBM,” Serah says with a glint of determination in her eyes.
She is growing more than trees. She is growing the future.