Rising Above Terrorism Scars: Mumina’s Extraordinary Journey from Tragedy to Triumph
Mumina Omar from Kiunga Community Conservancy in Lamu County, who has been directly impacted by NRT Trading’s Ujuzi Manyattani Program. Photo| NRT
Kenya’s northern and coastal regions have long been plagued with insecurity, upending the lives of community members, such as Mumina Omar.
In 2017, en route to Kiunga Primary School in Lamu County from Marani Village, Mumina, then in seventh grade, and other pupils with her experienced a tragedy that no child should ever have to suffer.
While travelling along the Mararani-Kiunga Road which passes through the dense and extensive Boni Forest, the vehicle transporting them drove over an improvised explosive device that had been planted by terrorists. A deafening explosion and a fiery inferno ensued, engulfing the vehicle.
The remote location of the incident hampered rescue efforts, and regrettably four of Mumina’s schoolmates succumbed to their injuries during the lengthy wait that continued late into the night. The impact of the explosion had flung Mumina far from her peers, making it hard to trace her. She spent the harrowing night alone in the forest, writhing in pain and consumed by fear, before eventually drifting into a state of unconsciousness.
It was not until 11 a.m. the following day that Mumina was found during a renewed search mission prompted by her distraught family’s report of her disappearance. She was rushed to the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa for treatment but showed no signs of improvement. After a fortnight, she was transferred to Kijabe Mission Hospital in Nairobi.
Her extensive injuries necessitated the amputation of one of her legs three months later to save her life. This profound loss not only impacted her education, dreams, and self-esteem but also strained her family’s resources.
Mumina Omar from Kiunga Community Conservancy in Lamu County during her graduation.
Despite the prevailing circumstances, Mumina’s indomitable spirit shone through the darkness. With the help of a prosthetic leg that was purchased by a good samaritan, she resumed formal learning in 2019, persevering through bouts of excruciating pain to complete her primary and secondary school education.
Mumina aspired to attain higher levels of education, but the pain searing through her body confined her to the walls of their family home, where she dutifully assisted her parents with light tasks. As destiny would have it, in 2023, Mumina heard about NRT Trading’s Ujuzi Manyattani Program, which provides vocational training in highdemand skills to young men and women in marginalized communities.
The Regional NRT Trading-Coast Ujuzi Manyattani Coordinator encouraged Mumina to enroll in the Program, where she underwent three months of training in tailoring and dressmaking. Despite her fears and doubts, through sheer determination and the unwavering support of her parents, trainer, and fellow trainees, Mumina learned to sew a wide array of garments and mastered the art of operating a sewing machine with one leg.
During her graduation from Ujuzi Manyattani, Mumina’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “Terrorists may have robbed me of one leg, but not my destiny,” she said defiantly. Upon graduating, Mumina and 30 other graduates from Kiunga Community Conservancy were issued with startup toolkits, enabling them to launch their businesses.
Mumina Omar from Kiunga Community Conservancy in Lamu County being assessed by her trainer. Photo|NRT
Operating in eight counties in northern and Coastal Kenya and supported by the United States Agency for International Development’s Local Works Program, Ujuzi Manyattani remains a beacon of hope for communities in NRT member conservancies.
In January this year, NRT Trading conducted a survey that revealed Ujuzi Manyattani graduates contribute over Ksh 60 million to the local economy through their income generating activities, and at least 88% of the Program’s graduates were self-employed and had started their own businesses.
To date, 962 young women and men have graduated from the Program with training in vocational skills and startup toolkits, empowering them economically and securing their livelihoods. Currently, 140 more youth are undergoing training through Ujuzi Manyattani.
NRT Trading which is transforming and rebranding to MashinaniWORKS was established by NRT as a business accelerator for social and conservation impact enterprises operating in NRT member community conservancies.