ENAF Launches ‘Mothers and Babies Behind Bars’ Initiative at Murang’a Women’s Prison

27 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

ENAF Launches ‘Mothers and Babies Behind Bars’ Initiative at Murang’a Women’s Prison

Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), represented by Chief of Party Sarah Muhoya, has officially launched the “Mothers and Babies Behind Bars” initiative. This milestone launch took place during the official opening of the new Administration Block and the Prisoners’ Mixed Block by the State Department for Correctional Services (SDCS) at Murang’a Women’s Prison. The multi-stakeholder initiative, which addresses the welfare of innocent children living with their incarcerated mothers, saw the donation of vital institutional support including beds, mattresses, and essential equipment, alongside personal Dignity Packs for every woman in the institution.

In the keynote address delivered on her behalf, ENAF President and CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria emphasised the societal obligation to protect vulnerable children and restore the dignity of women. She said: “A child’s cradle should never be in a cell. A child must never serve their mother’s sentence. At ENAF, we believe that empowerment must extend to those society often overlooks. When we restore a mother’s dignity, we protect a child’s future.”

Among those who attended the high-profile event were the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Beacco, CBS, Director of Prison Reforms, Mr. Ali Athmani, Central Regional Commander of Prisons, Ms Anne Gatimu, alongside development partners, and senior prison leadership. Speaking at the event, government officials praised the collaborative approach, noting that integrating gender-responsive management and child-sensitive spaces within the Kenya Prisons Service transforms correctional facilities from places of mere confinement into institutions of true rehabilitation and healing.

So far, ENAF’s holistic interventions have spanned six correctional institutions across the country, providing structured psychosocial support to over 140 incarcerated women and girls. The initiative operates across three interconnected priorities: protecting the child, restoring the dignity of women through psychosocial and legal empowerment, and strengthening correctional systems. This includes setting up vibrant, child-friendly crèches like the one at Thika Women’s Prison to ensure children spend their formative years in environments of safety, stimulation, and hope. With between 300 and 400 children currently living behind prison walls across Kenya’s 44 women’s correctional facilities, ENAF is working closely with the SDCS and corporate partners to scale these life-changing interventions nationwide, one facility at a time. This vital work requires a collective effort. ENAF calls upon individuals and corporate partners to join hands with us. Whether by supporting child-friendly crèches, donating to dignity drives, or sponsoring reintegration programmes, your partnership will restore hope and protect the future of these vulnerable children and mothers.

Girls Excel

Local Philanthropy and Corporate Action Unite as ENAF and AAR Hand Over 19th Mobile Science Lab

20 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

Local Philanthropy and Corporate Action Unite as ENAF and AAR Hand Over 19th Mobile Science Lab

Dr Jeniffer Riria, President and CEO of Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), together with representatives of AAR Insurance, donated a solar-powered Mobile Science Laboratory to Kavoo Comprehensive School. In Kitui West, the equipment, which is sourced from the School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU), is expected to be shared by more than 300 pupils from the surrounding schools in order to ease the huge challenge of inadequate equipment for teaching Science subjects at Junior and Senior Schools in the country. So far, ENAF, in partnership with individuals and corporate Partners has donated nineteen Mobile laboratories to a similar number of schools drawn from across the country, enabling over 5,000 pupils to access equipment necessary for the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Among those who attended the event were County Director of Education Dr. Khalif Hassan, TSC County Director Margaret Kamau, County Quality Assurance Officer James Gathogo, and other representatives from the Ministry of Education.

In her keynote speech, Dr. Jennifer Riria emphasised the need for equal access to quality education by all children regardless of where they are born. She said:

“At ENAF, we believe education is the most powerful equalizer in society. If Kenya is to compete successfully in the twenty-first century, we must invest deliberately in the minds that will drive future innovations.“

Speaking at the event, Ms Sarah Warutere of AAR Insurance pointed out that the partnership with ENAF aims to invest in initiatives that address real learning barriers: “When you remove barriers to learning, you do not just change what a student can do, you change what they believe about themselves. It places a resource in a child’s hands today.” The necessity of this intervention was best captured by Head of Institution, Cate Mitau: “The lab will do a lot in improving the grades of the learners. We have just been doing theory; we’ve talked about laboratories, but they didn’t know what ‘animal’ this is. Effective today, our pupils know what it is.”

The initiative by ENAF, under the Girl Excel Program Centre, is to provide Mobile Laboratories to pupils in Jnr and Snr Schools, aimed at enhancing the learning of STEM subjects in general, and more importantly, to encourage the uptake of STEM subjects by girls. More than 20,000 public schools in Kenya lack access to science equipment. ENAF is working together with the Ministry of Education and other partners to solve this challenge, one school at a time, at a cost of Ksh 200,000.

You too can be part of this life-changing initiative. Send your donation marked (Mobile Laboratory and the school) to: MPESA Paybill: 972800.

ENAF President & CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria addressing learners at Kavoo Comprehensive School during the official deployment of the 19th Mobile Science Laboratory and Science Kit under the Girls Excel Initiative.

Kitui County Director of Education (CDE) Dr. Khalif Hassan underscores the value of practical learning tools during the inspection of the newly delivered ENAF-AAR Mobile Science Laboratory and Junior School Science Kit at Kavoo Comprehensive School.

Kavoo Comprehensive School learners hold mentorship banners alongside ENAF President & CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria, AAR Insurance ESG Lead Sarah Warutere, and Ministry of Education officials during the lab handover.

Organizational News

The Jennifer Riria Hub Nominated for Top Customer Service Award

17 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

The Jennifer Riria Hub Nominated for Top Customer Service Award

Echo Network Africa (ENAF) is proud to announce that its flagship commercial initiative, the Jennifer Riria Hub, has been nominated for the Customer Service Excellence Award at the inaugural Nakuru Business & Talent Awards.

The nomination highlights ENAF’s institutional commitment to creating sustainable, world-class facilities that support economic empowerment and business growth. Located in the heart of Nakuru, the hub has quickly established itself as a premier destination for local entrepreneurs and corporate tenants by prioritizing an environment of innovation, safety, and seamless operations.

Mobilizing Support for the Win

To secure the award and cement the hub’s position as a regional leader, ENAF is rallying its partners, stakeholders, and the wider network to participate in the ongoing voting campaign.

The voting process is entirely public and runs until Friday, 11th July 2026. Each vote costs KES 10, and supporters are encouraged to vote multiple times to help lock in the victory.

How to Support the Campaign:

Access the Portal: Click here or scan the QR code on the poster using your smartphone. Link: https://nakurubusinessandtalentawards.com/nominees/a9175848-0225-4a2c-a779-49fba34432a8
Complete Payment: Follow the simple mobile money prompts on the portal to cast your vote.
Share the Link: Forward this link to your networks to help us expand our reach.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for ENAF as the foundation continues to drive impactful infrastructure development and celebrate service excellence across the region

Financial Inclusion YISA

From Salonist to Sustainable Fish Farmer: How the YISA Project Empowered Risper

16 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

From Salonist to Sustainable Fish Farmer: How the YISA Project Empowered Risper

In the vibrant markets of Siaya County, economic security for young mothers often hinges on the unpredictability of daily casual labor. For Risper Adoyo Akello, a mother of two, the path to financial self-reliance began in a local beauty salon. Despite her hard work, the hair salon yielded thin, irregular profit margins that barely covered basic household needs, leaving her trapped in a cycle of financial stress.

Seeking a more stable anchor for her family, Risper made the bold choice to pivot into fish mongering. However, without access to structured business training or financial capital, she quickly found herself restricted to trading small volumes—barely managing to scrape by on the margins of the beach markets.

The GALS Blueprint for Enterprise Growth

The turning point in Risper’s journey arrived through the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme. Implemented by Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), the initiative provided her with comprehensive training in Business Development Services (BDS) and the life-changing Gender Action Learning System (GALS).

Through GALS and the “Vision Journey Map” tool, Risper learned how to transition her mindset from survival trading to running a corporate, data-driven business unit. She mastered the fundamentals of record-keeping, strict profit calculations, and long-term goal setting.

“The GALS training changed everything for me. It forced me to map out a clear path for my family, save with intention, and run my business like a professional enterprise.”

Scaling with the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

The structural shift in Risper’s business became reality when she accessed an interest-free KES 20,000 loan via the YISA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). With this targeted capital injection, Risper scaled her daily trade volume and diversified her stock.

The economic ripple effect has directly transformed her household structure. Today, her fish business stands as a primary economic anchor, allowing her to easily co-share household responsibilities, cover school fees, and establish a reliable savings plan.

Charting a Permanent Legacy

Risper is no longer trading just to survive—she is building a permanent asset base. Guided by her Vision Journey Map, she has successfully started repaying her loan and is actively saving to invest in her own deep-water fish cage production on the lake.

Her journey proves that when young women are equipped with the right combination of market capacity, financial literacy, and inclusive capital, they can navigate their way directly to the forefront of Kenya’s blue economy.

About YISA: The Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme is a strategic partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium led by Farm Africa. As an implementing partner, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on the socio-economic elevation of young women, dismantling market access barriers, and helping them transition into independent, dignified entrepreneurship.

Financial Inclusion YISA

Amina’s Vision: How YISA Transformed a Kilifi Entrepreneur

12 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

Amina’s Vision: How YISA Transformed a Kilifi Entrepreneur

“Through the trainings in business management and the Vision Journey Map, I learned to set goals for my life and plan the steps to reach them; now I see clearly where I want to go.” > — Amina Katana

In the quiet village of Mgandini, Kilifi County, Amina Katana’s story stands as a powerful testament to resilience. Her journey into adulthood took an unexpected turn when she left school early to raise her first child as a single mother. Returning to her family home with limited options, she faced the harsh reality of irregular income and daily financial strain.

The burden of survival intensified following the passing of her father. Determined to forge a path forward, Amina’s mother introduced her to fish mongering, a trade deeply woven into the fabric of their coastal community. While this small business allowed Amina to contribute to the household, her growth was stifled by a lack of investment capital, leaving her family trapped in a cycle of subsistence living.

A Strategic Partnership for Growth

A defining shift occurred when the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme reached her village. Through the Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), Amina and the Amkeni Widows Group received intensive training in Business Development Services (BDS), where they mastered record-keeping, profit calculation, and market competition. For Amina, this was not just a lesson; it was the blueprint for a professional enterprise.

This impact extends far beyond the financial ledger. Amina participated in the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) training, a community-led methodology championed by the programme to promote inclusive economic participation. Through the Vision Journey Map tool, Amina was challenged to look past daily survival and visualize a secure, prosperous future for her children.

Scaling for Success

Empowerment became completely tangible when Amina’s group accessed a KES 200,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) facilitated by ENAF. With a personal loan of KES 20,000, Amina immediately scaled her operations. Previously restricted by limited capital to selling only 5 to 10 kilograms of fish daily, she now handles between 15 and 20 kilograms, fundamentally transforming her household income.

Today, Amina is a mother of two, and her thriving enterprise serves as the primary livelihood for her household, ensuring her children have consistent access to nutritious food and education.

“I am very grateful for this interest-free loan that helped grow my fish business,” Amina reflects. “Without this support, it would have been very difficult to increase my capital.”

Building a Permanent Legacy

Amina’s journey is no longer a search for daily survival, but a march toward a lasting legacy. Guided by her Vision Journey Map, she is saving to purchase her own land and build a permanent, safe home for her family. Her success serves as a shining beacon for her community, proving that when equipped with targeted financial inclusion and business literacy, mothers can turn small opportunities into lasting independence.

About YISA

The Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme is a strategic collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium led by Farm Africa. As a vital partner in this consortium, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on dismantling the structural barriers that hold young women back from dignified, sustainable livelihoods.

Organizational News

Community Honors Dr. Jennifer Riria by Naming Major Street After Her

11 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

Community Honors Dr. Jennifer Riria by Naming Major Street After Her

Residents of a village in Meru county unanimously agreed to honor one of their daughters, Dr Jennifer Riria by naming the only street leading to the populous shopping Centre in her name.

To mark this landmark decision, the community erected a sign post with the name of Dr Riria prominently displayed for all to see. The recognition was yet another reminder that service to humanity is service to God.

We at Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) congratulate Dr Riria for this amazing recognition.

Blue Economy & Climate Action

Kilifi Women Lead Mangrove Restoration and Beach Clean-Up for World Environment Day

5 June, 2026 ENAF Communications

Kilifi Women Lead Mangrove Restoration and Beach Clean-Up for World Environment Day

To mark World Environment Day, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) translated global climate goals into tangible community action today by joining forces with local grassroots networks to plant 1,000 mangrove seedlings and conduct a massive beach clean-up across the vital Mida Creek ecosystem.

The successful field deployment, driven by ENAF’s Blue Economy and Climate Action Initiative, was executed in close partnership with the Jivunie Vi Smart (JIVIS) CBO, one of ENAF’s key Local Implementing Partners in Kilifi. The entire exercise was spearheaded directly by local custodians, including Mida Creek Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chair Maulid Ngana, Community Forest Association (CFA) Chair Twahir Kiraga, and Dabaso Mwanzo Mpya Group Leader Beatrice Ngundi, who mobilized local women’s groups to lead the restoration.

For the women of Kilifi, wading into the tidal mud to secure these seedlings is a matter of household survival. Many of these women are active actors in mariculture and coastal economies, depending directly on a healthy creek for their daily income and family well-being. By restoring the mangrove canopy, the community is actively protecting critical fish breeding grounds, reversing coastal erosion, and building long-term climate resilience against severe environmental shocks.

Parallel to the planting, the community-led beach clean-up tackled local sanitation and public health, proving that environmental protection and community health go hand in hand. By matching local leadership with institutional backing, this initiative stands as a prime example of how grassroots partnerships can turn climate policy into immediate, life-changing economic and ecological benefits.

Girls Excel

ENAF and Malaysian High Commission Unveil 18th Mobile Science Lab at Kibera Primary School on Menstrual Hygiene Day

28 May, 2026 ENAF Communications

ENAF and Malaysian High Commission Unveil 18th Mobile Science Lab at Kibera Primary School on Menstrual Hygiene Day

To mark global Menstrual Hygiene Day under the theme “Together for a period friendly world,” Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), through the generous giving of the Malaysian High Commission, officially handed over its 18th Mobile Science Laboratory countrywide at Kibera Primary School.

The deployment expands ENAF’s national educational footprint across 18 under-resourced schools in 14 counties, with Nairobi proudly joining the initiative. To ensure equity, beneficiary schools span regions from Murang’a and Kilifi to Marsabit and Busia, ensuring quality STEM access is never limited by geography or economic status.

Speaking at the launch, ENAF President & CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria highlighted the link between infrastructure and dignity under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). “Access to practical science infrastructure through these mobile laboratories is absolutely essential to ignite innovation,” Dr. Riria stated. “However, institutional investments in STEM must be protected by investments in human dignity. A girl cannot utilize a state of the art laboratory if period poverty or social stigma forces her to stay at home.”

Through the Girls Excel Initiative, ENAF pairs STEM access with dignity support. In the current intervention quarter alone, ENAF has distributed 7,678 dignity kits containing sanitary towels to 3,855 girls, directly combating school absenteeism.

This milestone represents the second mobile lab delivered in partnership with the Malaysian High Commission, following their sponsorship of a lab for the Ngala School for the Deaf in Nakuru County. Emphasizing the power of collective philanthropy, Dr. Riria invited corporate partners and policymakers to co-invest in digital connectivity and mentorship networks to sustain learners’ scientific curiosity into lifelong careers.

Financial Inclusion YISA

How a Single Interest-Free Loan Changed Addline’s Life

11 May, 2026 ENAF Communications

How a Single Interest-Free Loan Changed Addline’s Life

For 28-year-old Addline Atieno, the shoreline of Sindo was once a place where she worked for others, possessing the ambition for ownership but lacking the necessary capital to break free. Despite having a deep knowledge of the local fish trade, she remained an employee, stunted by the high cost of entry into the market.

“Before, I was working as a casual employee for someone else, where I learned the basics of fish handling and customer service” Addline reflects. “I had acquired the skills to fry and sell fish, but I needed the capital to start my own business and manage it professionally.”

Addline is a member of the Omoyo Entrepreneurship Self-Help Group, a collective of 17 women and 3 men based at Sindo Gateway. Before external support reached them, the group’s financial options were dire; they were often forced to rely on shylocks charging an exorbitant 10% daily interest. This cycle of debt meant that most earnings were returned as interest, forcing some members to abandon their businesses to work for larger traders for just KES 300 a day.

Through the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme, the trajectory for Addline and her group shifted. She received specialised training in loan management, savings strategies, and business planning, which provided the foundation for her to transition from precarious labour to stable entrepreneurship.

The group eventually accessed a KES 250,000 interest-free Revolving Loan Fund, a tool designed by ENAF to provide a financial safety net for young entrepreneurs. Addline utilised her portion of the fund to launch her own fish-frying business and hotel, moving from the sidelines of the market to the centre of her own enterprise.

Addline did not just use the funds to survive; she used them to pivot. She launched her own fish-frying business, moving from the sidelines of the market to the centre of her own enterprise. The transformation was rapid. Within a few short months, the woman who once took orders was now giving them.

Today, Addline is a thriving employer who has hired three other young women from her community, providing them with the daily wages and dignified work she once sought for herself. Her hotel is now a busy landmark in Sindo where she serves local fishermen and residents.

“When I started, I was working completely alone, struggling to fry even a few kilograms of fish just to get by,” Addline explains. “Today, my business has grown so much that I have employed three young women to work alongside me. We are constantly busy, especially from noon into the afternoon when the fishermen come in to eat. I am proud that I can now pay my staff daily wages and manage a business that serves my entire community”.

Her success stands as a vivid example of how targeted training and inclusive financial support can turn individual potential into community-wide economic stability.

YISA is a partnership program with the Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners led by Farm Africa, designed to revitalise Kenya’s blue economy by integrating young people into high-value aquatic trade. Within this collaborative framework, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) focuses on the socio-economic elevation of young women. ENAF’s role is to facilitate the transition from precarious labour to stable entrepreneurship by providing specialized training in loan management and savings strategies.

Blue Economy & Climate Action

From the Shadows of Exploitation to the Forefront of Community Leadership at Omena Beach

8 May, 2026 ENAF Communications

From the Shadows of Exploitation to the Forefront of Community Leadership at Omena Beach

“I am no longer afraid. I can now speak out and report any form of abuse. I know my rights.”

For Edna Obwory Khomo, a 33-year-old fish monger at Omena Beach, these words mark the end of a period defined by silence and uncertainty. Before the intervention of Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), Edna’s life was a daily struggle against both economic instability and systemic exploitation. Today, she has transitioned from a fearful trader into a confident, diversified entrepreneur and a vocal advocate for women’s rights at Omena Beach in Busia County.

This transformation highlights the success of the ENAF Aqua-Enterprise Program in addressing the barriers facing women in fishing communities: financial illiteracy, nutritional insecurity, and gender-based violence (GBV). By moving beyond simple aid and focusing on group formalization and skill acquisition, ENAF has empowered Edna to reclaim her dignity and secure her family’s future.

Before ENAF stepped in, Edna’s business was dictated by guesswork. Without formal records, she was unable to distinguish between profit and loss, often mixing her business capital with household expenses. This financial vulnerability was compounded by a predatory environment at the beach, where female traders often faced pressure to engage in inappropriate relationships with boat owners just to access fish. Powerless and lacking the confidence to speak out, Edna navigated a workspace that felt fundamentally unsafe.

*Edna at her place of work, drying “Omena” – Silver ciprinid and “Ochonga” at Omena Beach*

The turning point occurred when ENAF, through her Local Implementing Partner in Busia, SABCO CBO, identified an informal “merry-go-round” savings group that Edna was part of and enrolled them in a comprehensive economic and social strengthening program. ENAF did not just build the capacity of the group through training, but supported formalization of the “Achievers Young Women Group,” through constitution development, and their official registration with the Department of Social Services. This group structuring process positioned Edna and her group members to receive vocational skilling in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, community hygiene and sanitation including hand washing, soap making and sanitation management training, as well as kitchen gardening.

Subsequently, Edna realized drastic reduction of losses when she learnt how to separate her business money from her domestic funds, therefore maintaining a steady stream of business capital. Now equipped with knowledge and skills to manage a kitchen garden, Edna observed a significant drop in her household food and utilities expenses as she now harvests kale and spinach from her own kitchen garden and produces her own detergent. “Today, I am proud because I can manage my business well and know whether I am making a profit or a loss,” Edna says. Furthermore, the liquid soap she produces has become a secondary income stream, sold to neighbours and fellow traders during the market’s peak hours.

Beyond the balance sheet, the most profound change is Edna’s newfound social status. Once a shy young woman who feared harassment, now serves as a role model within her group, guiding others on record-keeping and reporting gender based violence cases to the Beach Management Unit (BMU) and local authorities. While challenges such as limited expansion capital and market competition remain, Edna is no longer navigating them alone. Her story serves as a blueprint for how targeted interventions can turn a vulnerable trader into a knowledgeable leader, proving that when a woman knows her rights and her worth, an entire community begins to thrive.

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