Rooted in Hope: How Kimlea is Changing Lives in Kenya’s Tea-Farming Heartland.

Women picking tea

In the early hours of the morning, before the sun rises over the lush tea fields of Limuru, thousands of women are already at work. Their hands, stained by the tea leaves they pluck, are the same hands that feed families, nurture children, and dream of something more. At the heart of this quiet revolution stands Kimlea Technical Training College, a beacon of opportunity for young women from tea-farming families who have long been underserved and overlooked.

Serving the Unseen Backbone of the Economy.

Limuru and its surrounding areas are home to thousands of tea plantation workers, many of whom are women. According to Kenya's Tea Directorate, over 60% of labor on tea farms is provided by women, yet most earn below the minimum wage and lack access to higher education or formal employment training. These are the women Kimlea was built to serve.

Students at Kimlea

Founded in 1992 by the Kianda Foundation, Kimlea is not just a college—it’s a bridge to dignity, independence, and transformation. We specifically serve young women from low-income tea-picking families who would otherwise have no access to quality education. Each year, over 200 students pass through our doors, receiving hands-on training in hospitality, nutrition, and early childhood development.

What makes Kimlea unique is not just the skills we offer, but the lives we uplift. Many of our graduates go on to work in reputable hotels, open food businesses, or become mentors in their communities. Others return to the very plantations they grew up on—not as workers, but as leaders.

Holistic Empowerment: The Kimlea Clinic

At Kimlea, empowerment goes beyond the classroom. The Kimlea Clinic, located on campus, serves both students and the wider community. With a focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, and preventive care, the clinic sees over 3,000 patients annually, many of whom are tea workers and their families.

Kimlea entrance

For many, the Kimlea Clinic is the only accessible medical facility offering affordable, high-quality care in the region. Children receive check-ups, women get essential reproductive health services, and malnourished families are supported with food programs and follow-ups. Health, after all, is the foundation on which all growth is built.

The Ripple Effect

When you educate a young woman at Kimlea, you don't just change her life—you transform her entire household. Our impact surveys show that 87% of our alumni contribute to their family's income within six months of graduation. Many also report improved nutrition, budgeting skills, and healthier living environments at home.

These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent the ripple effect of hope. A mother who can now afford school fees. A sibling who is inspired to stay in school. A village that sees what’s possible when one of their own rises.