Kenana Down Under

Kenana Knitters is a grassroots organisation situated near Njoro (Rift Valley area of Kenya) and was founded in 1998 by local Kenyan, Patricia Nightingale.  Patricia wanted to assist local ladies who were lacking a market for their homespun wool. Over time with clever designs, she and the knitters transformed the yarn into unique creations.   With a vision to further impact the community, Kenana Knitters taught women in the area to knit beautiful, organic cotton products using local, sustainable resources.  By providing a safe, family-friendly working environment, Kenana Knitters empowers women, offering them a chance to work and take charge of their lives, with pride and dignity.

Today, Kenana Knitters has 580 registered knitters on their books and currently 430 are active. There are at least 200 spinners looking after the provision of homespun wool. The organisation exports a collection of unique products to countries within African and around the world, to Europe, UK, USA, Japan and Australia. As well as providing the knitters and spinners a regular income through their knitting, Kenana Knitters provides a monthly health clinic for the women, including free eye checks and glasses if needed and no woman is asked her HIV status. A savings plan, daily newspaper and access to free electricity for phone and torch charging are also provided.  The Kenana Knitters are changing their lives, stitch by stitch