How Persons with Disabilities Are Building Livelihoods Along Kenya’s Coast
Learn how a group of entrepreneurs in Kenya is breaking barriers and tapping into the coconut value chain.
Along Kenya’s coastal region, coconut palms have long been a defining feature of the landscape. But for a group of 27 people living with disabilities, these abundant trees represent something more: a pathway to economic independence and social inclusion.
The group calls itself Ripples of Hope, a name that reflects both their mission and their impact. They are tapping into the coconut value chain by producing virgin coconut oil, a product prized for its purity and health benefits in both local and international markets.
Their work is part of the BlueBiz Program, an initiative by Action Life Kenya in partnership with TechnoServe and funded by the Mastercard Foundation. The program seeks to unlock the potential of the coastal blue economy by equipping youth and vulnerable groups with business skills, technical expertise, and access to markets.
Learning the Craft
Recently, Ripples of Hope received hands-on training from Richard Mutuku, a technical trainer from BlueBiz and an expert in coconut oil production. During the session, members learned how to extract virgin coconut oil using the cold press, a method that preserves the oil’s natural antioxidants and nutrients by avoiding heat.
The process is both traditional and accessible. Members split raw coconuts in half and grate the meat with a tool known locally as “Mbuzi.” They then add warm water to help extract the milk more efficiently. Finally, the grated coconut is squeezed through cheesecloth to obtain thick coconut milk. This milk is placed in a clear container and left in the sun, where natural fermentation separates it into three distinct layers: coconut curd on top, pure coconut oil in the middle, and water at the bottom.
The low-tech, eco-friendly process requires no significant capital investments, making it particularly suitable for the group members. It allows them to add substantial value to one of the coast’s most abundant resources without needing expensive equipment. Currently, the group generates between $871 to $930 in monthly revenue, with plans for further growth.
Building Business Capacity
Through BlueBiz, Ripples of Hope will receive capacity-building support in several areas critical to growing their enterprise. The program will help them develop market linkages, improve their branding and packaging, and strengthen their business development and networking skills.
“A lot of our people have been put down and left out for years,” shared Ripples of Hope member Grace Atieno. “Some weren’t allowed to be educated, others were told they couldn’t work or have businesses. Ripples of Hope has become a safe place where members find their self-worth, talents, and purpose. By means of this project, we are proving that having a disability isn’t the same as being unable to do things.”
New Business Opportunities
One key opportunity for Ripples of Hope is the Bahari Boost Challenge Fund (BBCF). BBCF is a $1 million initiative supporting young women and men running enterprises across Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, and Mombasa, Kenya. The fund seeks to foster enterprise growth and create dignified, fulfilling work opportunities for young entrepreneurs, particularly young women, in Kenya’s coastal region, with a focus on selected Blue Economy value chains. In addition to financial support, the fund provides mentorship, business development services, and access to networks that can help enterprises thrive.
In August 2025, Ripples of Hope successfully pitched their business idea to potential investors and funders. They were awarded $3,836, which will help them invest in equipment (including an oil press machine, coconut grater, and greenhouse dryer), packaging, and marketing.
TechnoServe is also helping the group gain access to key government initiatives through an access-to-finance aftercare strategy. These include the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Uwezo Fund, and the newly launched NYOTA Program, which aims to empower innovative youth and marginalized groups. Ripples for Hope will also connect with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
These linkages provide critical financial support and are a vital step toward social and economic inclusion for persons living with disabilities.
Changing the Narrative on Disability
For persons with disabilities in Kenya’s coastal region, finding work or starting a business means navigating layers of exclusion that often begin in childhood. Many were denied access to education early on, which meant they never developed formal skills. Without those skills and credentials, employers won’t hire them, and without employment history or collateral, banks won’t lend to them.
The result is economic exclusion that has little to do with ability. People with real potential to contribute get turned away from jobs, passed over for business development programs, or told outright that no opportunities exist for them.
“Before I joined the group, I was very dependent on family for help and felt apart from the community,” said Bakari Ngala*. “Now, I’ve got skills, self-confidence, and friends. I feel valued because I’m helping financially, and I can see a future where I can help myself and my family.”
Ripples of Hope represents a different approach, one that addresses these structural barriers directly. Through BlueBiz, TechnoServe and Action Life Kenya are providing technical training in a viable trade, business development support, and connections to buyers and investors.
As the group moves through the BlueBiz program and prepares to receive the Bahari Boost Challenge, they’re proving what many already knew—the barriers have never been about capability. They’ve been about access. Along Kenya’s coast, programs like BlueBiz are finally dismantling those barriers, and entrepreneurs like Ripples of Hope are showing what happens when they do.
*Name changed to protect privacy
