00:00These vegetables are growing in a densely populated area,
00:05one of the largest informal settlements in Kenya.
00:09Most of these plants are indigenous and farmed according to traditional methods
00:13by these women from the Nubian community.
00:16It's an important source of food for the inhabitants of Kaibira.
00:20In our community, almost 90% of the people prefer traditional foods like the indigenous vegetables.
00:29When farming in an urban area like this, you must research and find out what type of food the community likes.
00:37You can't farm what the community doesn't like.
00:40You farm what you know will get to market easily.
00:45That's why we prefer to grow indigenous vegetables, because they are profitable.
00:51Because many people in our community like to eat them.
00:56The women are part of the Mezenghira Women Initiative, which aims to preserve their cultural heritage,
01:02all while providing the community with food.
01:05But farming in the settlement comes with some challenges.
01:08Informal settlements, at times, there's no guarantee.
01:13There's no guarantee that you'll actually be growing your own vegetables for a very long time.
01:19You'll grow for some time, and then something comes up.
01:22Somebody decides they want to utilize the land for a different purpose.
01:26The project started in 2019.
01:30It also aims to give the inhabitants some food security in the face of climate change.
01:38So I think climate change sort of shifts the goalposts for urban farmers.
01:45And I think it's important that then they also try to adapt as much as possible.
01:49And I know, you know, like these organizations and communities that are now starting to invest heavily in indigenous foods.
01:58So that our indigenous crops, that also helps a lot, because then there are more climate resistance.
02:03With their small patch of land amid the densely populated settlement,
02:07the women of Kyberra are nurturing both the community and hope for the future.
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