About Imani Program
Our Mission
Empowering Women, Transforming Lives.
The Imani Women Empowerment Program is a nonprofit organization with the goal of equipping young women in life and trade skills. Teenage pregnancies in Kenya have contributed to the rise of poverty and the increase in street families.
By empowering the next generation of young women with vocational skills and business training, the cycle of poverty and hopelessness can be broken. By creating self-employment opportunities and jobs, these young women are able to provide for their futures and for their children’s basic needs.
With a total of 8 cohorts since our beginning, Imani has trained a total of 44 young mothers. (8 women- 2021, 8 women- 2022, 8 women - 2023, and 20 women - 2024.) These are 44 mothers with tailoring and business skills, families who now have an empowered mother who is able to confidently care for and provide for her children.
Our 2025 target is to train 30-40 women in tailoring and business skills, with various new skills training to be added in future years, such as jewelry/beadwork, housekeeping, computer training, cooking, and more able livelihoods and support their families.
Our Programs
- Vocational Training: Teach specific skills for better job opportunities
- Home Life: Daily home tasks to prepare young women for running their own household
- HIV/AIDS Awareness: Promote health education.
- Emotional Support: Offer counseling services
- Community Outreach: Build supportive networks
- Biblical Teaching: provide a solid biblical foundation for a strong relationship with Jesus
Meet Keziah Murugi, Founder and Executive Director
Keziah Murugi is the founder and Executive Director of the Imani Women Empowerment Program and the heart behind the vision to have a sustainable and lasting ministry for women in Kenya. She is a wife of 16 years to David Kariuki and mother to Lorraine (15) and Laney Grace (11).
Keziah was born in 1986 to Jonathan Njung’e and Gladys Waturi, but her story started before she was even born. Keziah’s mother, Gladys, experienced the effects of her parent’s broken marriage, eventually suffering neglect and abuse under a stepmother. Gladys became pregnant at 15 years old, got married, and finally found refuge in her home with her new husband, Jonathan. She finally had adequate food and a safe place to live. So, even before she was born, the need existed in Keziah’s world for justice and mercy to be demonstrated and experienced.
Her husband David Kariuki was raised in Mully Children’s Family Home from the young age of 10. As a former street child he experienced many things firsthand that gave him a heart for young men without stable homes. David, with his degrees in sociology and counseling psychology, provides skills training and mentorship to vulnerable young men through his organization called Seeds of Hope Kenya.
Keziah holds a Bachelors degree in International Business Administration in Finance and Marketing. She also holds a diploma in Business Management, HIV/AIDS management, and a certification in Start Your Business (SYB), a program by the Mastercard Foundation.
Keziah’s work history includes Children’s Garden Home and School(4 years), Heart for Africa(4 years), and HOW? Ministry Kenyan Director/Coordinator(8 years). She has experience as a teacher, accountant, and sales representative. As Director/Coordinator, Keziah has experience in leadership, fundraising, programs management, operations, community relations, communications, mentoring, and more. Her volunteer experience includes serving as a Family Matters facilitator in a local program, board secretary and bank signatory of her church, AGC Good Shepherd in Nairobi, and more.
Program History and Vision
Keziah launched the Imani Women Empowerment Program in 2021. With a total of 8 cohorts since our beginning, Imani has trained a total of 44 young mothers: 8 women in 2021, 8 women in 2022, 8 women in 2023, and 20 women in 2024. These forty-four mothers, equipped with tailoring and business skills, are now able to confidently care for and provide for their children. These families now have an empowered mother!
Our 2025 target is to train 40 women in sewing and business skills. In the future we plan to add various new skills training such as beauty, weaving, jewelry/beadwork, housekeeping, computer literacy, cooking, and more.
Our 2026 vision is to open a school uniform production facility and shop!
what is the Imani Program?
In Swahili, the word imani means faith. Webster’s Dictionary defines faith is the “complete confidence or trust in something or someone”.
The Imani Women Empowerment Program seeks to support and encourage vulnerable women, both young and old. This program is a vocational and life skills training program that aims to equip young women to start and run a successful business venture.
Imani Program is a nonprofit organization with the goal of equipping young women in life and trade skills. Teenage pregnancies in Kenya have contributed to the rise of poverty and the increase in street families. Stable employment opportunities are much more difficult to find without a college education. By creating self-employment opportunities and jobs, these young women are able to provide for their futures and for their children’s basic needs.
By empowering the next generation of young women with vocational skills and business training, the cycle of poverty and hopelessness can be broken.
We believe in the potential of each and every one of the women who come through our program!
What does the Imani Program look like?
The Imani Program includes all educational classes, equipment training and usage, and supplies, but it encompasses much more than just specific skills training. Our cohort program also includes 6 months of room and board, medical services, as well as HIV/AIDS awareness counseling.
Additional programs may be offered in the future, including but not limited to beauty, weaving, jewelry, computer literacy, cooking, and more.
Students in each 6-month cohort will learn tailoring skills as well as the business aspects of our sewing business. They are mentored and equipped to not only be skilled in tailoring, but to be confidently prepared for their future after program completion.
The Imani Women Empowerment Program also cares for 30 widows in the mountain town of Kinangop with a special gift of a Christmas food basket every year. This festive basket helps our 30 students and these 30 widows with extra food and supplies to celebrate with friends and family.
What does the logo mean?
The Imani logo is a thread woven behind the word “faith” in Swahili, and it represents both the valleys and mountains that God has brought them through, as well as the powerful thread of friendship and collaboration that the Imani House brings to women across the globe.
The button reminds us that God uses our stories in powerful ways as we come together for a purpose!