May 30, 2022
Kenya's artisanal mining sector has long been male-dominated, with women facing numerous challenges in this lucrative field. Holiness Mwadime, a 42-year-old woman from Taita Taveta County, Kenya, is one of the few female artisanal miners who dared to break the stereotypes.
Ms. Mwadime's journey began in 2016 when she, along with other women from Taita Taveta County, formed a community-based organization (CBO) and obtained a mining licence. However, they lacked the necessary technology to find gemstones, and their efforts were met with numerous challenges.
'We had no specialized equipment, we would just prospect that the stones are at a certain place then start digging tunnels, more than 10 meters deep,' Ms. Mwadime recalled.
Despite the difficulties, Ms. Mwadime persevered and eventually decided to switch to value addition for gemstones. In 2019, she registered Hols Gems Enterprises as a business, and her entrepreneurial journey took off.
Ms. Mwadime buys gemstones from fellow miners, cuts and polishes them, and then sells them as jewellery. She uses a hired machine to cut the stones into the desired shape and displays her work at mining exhibitions and online.
'I do not have a permanent shop, but I advertise my business through social media like my Whatsapp status and get buyers,' she explained.
Ms. Mwadime's business has faced challenges, including the current economic situation in Kenya, which has affected her profits. However, she remains optimistic and hopes to expand her business locally and globally in the coming years.
She also intends to help other women artisanal miners to set up their businesses and become fully independent.
