BY VILLAGE MARKET
PO Box 100-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 020 712 2488/90
Email: admin@villagemarket-kenya.com
Damar Padwa
Silvia Okuom
Damar Padwa – damar@villagemarket-kenya.com
Faith Dama – faith@villagemarket-kenya.com
Evelyn Ngenga – eve@villagemarket-kenya.com
Silvia Okuom – pr@villagemarket-kenya.com
Land & Marine Publications Ltd
Modern Lithographic Ltd
Village Market community
Embassies and High Commissions
Corporate partners
Private and international schools
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, or any other organization associated with this publication. Village Market is not Liable for use of any third party images or content submitted or featured. No liability will be accepted for inaccuracies or omissions. ©2023 Village Market.
The need to survive and thrive has made us avid consumers of mother earth’s finite resources. We are constantly for the search of newer, better, shinier and the latest consumables. All these wants drive world economies through a continuous loop of production and consumption no doubt. But, at what cost?
This Green issue is quite special to us. Being at the frontier of retail that has its own pros and cons, we sit down with ourselves and consciously question our role in a world that is faced with wanton destruction and a massive appetite for fast consumption. Is another alternative possible? Read more on why this issue should matter to you on page 12.
This edition showcases the initiatives that Village Market is currently engaging in to ensure responsible consumption, production and ethical consumerism. We highlight how we contribute to bettering the environment around us. Read more about this on pages 13 to 16.
We feature the Earth Keepers, a new and special book that details the importance of being nature’s advocate for the present and future generations. Find out more about the author and the book on pages 18 to 19.
We also place a special focus on Village Market’s brands and partners who have entrenched environmental, social or economic sustainability to their business model. We are immensely proud of the work these brands are doing to do business differently and better, more from page 20.
Catch up with our regular features on VM Foodie, Village Planner, Health, and discover two special brands that have opened their new East African flagship stores in the mall.
We remain optimists, that a greener and sustainable earth is possible in our lifetime!
Damar Padwa
The images used above are third party images derived from the owners social handles posts, reshares or tagged images showcasing different spaces and events within Village Market, Tribe and Trademark Hotels. Village Market is not liable for use of any third party images or content submitted or featured. No liabilities will be accepted for inaccuracies or omissions.
www.villagemarket-kenya.com
On 20 March we got to celebrate with our community and we spread cheer and laughter all around. Our shoppers were gifted with smiley buttons, a reminder that sometimes all it takes to experience joy and happiness is giving a smile.
If there is one thing that we want, it is to be happy. A sweet symphony, the coming together of different tunes to produce melodies that reach the depth of our souls. Happiness is more than just the smile on your face, it is the beautiful memories we create that keep bringing the feelings back. An everyday choice to keep the positive energies around, to keep building on all the beautiful things life has to offer. Be the reason someone experiences sheer happiness today and every other day!
We strapped our shoes and danced the day away! What started as a passion project to celebrate the International Day of Dance ended up being the most exciting weekend of our time at Village Market.
A time we took to celebrate community, dance and legendary musicians. We danced to Big Flexa in celebration of the life of South African rapper Costa Titch, a recently lost legend among other songs. Check out @ village market events on instagram for videos on the same.
The ease with which words flow to flesh out the depths of our experiences, emotions, and the essence of life is reason enough to honor wordsmiths. As we celebrated this day and phenomenal poets, like Mufasa, Slim Shaka, Nyash and Stella Kivuti we were reminded that; We are Enough, A Thousand Times Enough
The Village Market’s International School Fair held 28-30 April 2023 at Village Market was a lively hub of activity, energy and a vibrant atmosphere. Attendees were met with a colorful parade of representatives showcasing the diverse range of schools offering international curricula from the enchanting IB wonders to the British brilliance, STEM superstars, and American art aficionados, there was a school for every taste and interest. The booths were like portals into the
school’s worlds, showcasing their programmes, facilities, and achievements. It was a feast for the eyes and an opportunity to discover the perfect educational fit. Workshops and demonstrations organised by some schools like Ukweza Virtual Reality (Ukweza VR) allowed attendees to have a hands-on experience of their teaching methods.Hands-on learning was the name of the game!
Schools set up workshops and demonstrations that sparked curiosity and ignited young minds. From electrifying science experiments that made hair stand on end (literally!) to mesmerizing dance routines that transported attendees to another dimension, the workshops were an interactive playground of knowledge and creativity.
The school fair proved to be a
successful and valuable event for both schools and attendees. It provided a comprehensive platform for families to explore educational opportunities, learn about different curricula, and interact with school representatives. The fair's positive impact will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of the international education landscape in the region. To all the attendees, thank you for joining us on this exhilarating ride. Remember, education is not just about textbooks and exams – it's about igniting passions and nurturing minds.
Indonesia Nairobi Expo, IndoNEX 2023, the maiden expo undertaken by the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi, was held on 13 May at the Trademark Hotel, Nairobi highlighting Indonesia’s export products, trade, business and education seminar; aimed at promoting Indonesian universities’ academic and international scholarship programs.
In addition, there was a cultural workshop introducing, discussing, and showcasing the unique Indonesian "Pencak Silat" martial art and self-defence. Cultural performances, covering the Balinese dances and the demo of "Pencak Silat" martial art and self-defense, also took place, which mesmerized more than 250 spectators. Visitors were also entertained by a cooking demo showcased by the Association of Indonesian Ladies in Nairobi, sponsored by Sasa Inti Ltd. Co., an exhibiting producer of well-known food seasoning products. The cooking of Indonesian fried rice, “rendang” beef curry, and fried banana are among other Indonesian culinary delights that were demoed.
Based on a survey conducted at the end of the expo, the “trade potential value” generated from IndoNEX 2023 reaches USD 1,120,000. Herbal medicinal products, tobacco, foodstuffs and coconut milk products are the superior products demanded.
The Italian Week Expo at Village Market featured several business owners that are a part of COMITES. The event was graced by the Ambassador of Italy to Kenya HE Roberto Natali.
This year’s showcase featured a special cook-out by Italian Director of Cultural Institute in Kenya Elena Gallenca and Director of Italian Operations in Kenya Luigi Grandi. We got to explore the world of Italian cuisine and experience the rich heritage of Italian delicatessen: Imported Cheese, different varieties of salami, Italian wine, honey, ice cream, coffee and all varieties of pasta.
In a world grappling with mounting environmental challenges, the significance of recycling and repurposing waste cannot be overstated. Our innovative Glow in The Dark Minigolf yard, stands as a radiant testament to the remarkable transformation of discarded materials into something extraordinary. By embracing the ethos of conservation and showcasing the value of recycling, this one-of-a-kind establishment is lighting the way towards a greener, more sustainable future.
The core idea behind our Glow in The Dark Mini Golf course, The Yard, is to demonstrate the immense potential lying dormant in what others consider waste. Through meticulous sourcing from
junkyards, streets, garages, and more, we have given new life to discarded materials, ensuring they are no longer destined for the landfill. By upcycling these items, we have created an immersive experience that blends entertainment and education, all while championing the message of environmental stewardship.
The very essence of our facility lies in its commitment to repurposing with purpose. Salvaged car parts become challenging obstacles, bicycle wheels serve as targets, and reclaimed metal scraps fashion dynamic course layouts. By show-casing these repurposed materials in an engaging and artistic manner, we provide visitors
with a tangible and memorable reminder of the value hidden within discarded objects. Our indoor minigolf glow-in-the-dark junkyard is more than just a recreational facility—it is a powerful statement about our commitment to environmental conservation. By repurposing discarded materials into an engaging and educational experience, we demonstrate the transformative power of recycling. Through this unique endeavor, we inspire visitors to reimagine waste and make sustainable choices, leaving an indelible mark on the path to a greener, more resilient future.
We invite you to join us and experience the magic of our junkyard. Come and play a round of minigolf with family and friends, and witness firsthand the remarkable potential of repurposed waste. Together, let us continue to champion environmental conservation, one putt at a time.
At Village Market, we are not just about providing amazing experiences, but also about making a positive impact around us. We were excited to support Makini School in their 1 hectare 1100 seedlings initiative. The initiative is championed by Emmanuel Kerr, a kindergarten student at Makini School who is a conservation champion who has
planted over 500 trees and targets to plant over 1500 trees by the end of 2023.
Village Market eco-warriors, the Green Team, took to Ngong Forest to support Makini School’s mission to create a greener future. It was a day filled with excitement, joy, and the spirit of sustainability. We witnessed young minds connecting with nature, with shovels in hand and smiles on our faces, we planted countless trees that will grow into a lush green paradise. Together we can make a difference - one tree at a time!
Kids Village Camp is a tri-annual kids camp over school holidays that brings together children to play, make new friends and learn in a safe environment. Village Camp believes in inspiring young minds through thrilling adventures that foster a
deep love for our planet. We embarked on an exciting day trip to learn about Ocean Sole. Ocean Sole is an organization that turns discarded flip flops into artwork and functional products, which in turn raises visual awareness of the pollution crisis. The trip not only brought the wonders of the ocean to life but also highlighted the harmonious blend of fun and sustainability. The kids were captivated as they discovered how Ocean Sole creatively transformed discarded flip-flops into stunning artwork, preventing them from polluting the oceans.
Through interactive activities, the kids learned about marine life conservation and the importance of recycling. Witnessing the enthusiasm and passion of the Ocean Sole team, the children left with a profound understanding that fun and sustainability can go hand in hand, inspiring them to become ambassadors for our planet’s well- being.
The need to survive and thrive has made us avid consumers of mother earth’s finite resources: gold and diamonds as currency, rare elements to power up our phones, fuel to keep the lights on and industries running, water and pasture to satiate our appetite for fast food; we are constantly in the search of newer, better, shinier and the latest consumables.
All these wants to have a ‘better and modern’ lived experience drive world economies through a continuous loop of production and consumption, no doubt. The cost for this has been well documented, a quick Google search will leave you with thousands of research findings on the impact of economic growth and capitalism on the natural environment. Nature cannot keep up. We are faced with the biggest environmental disasters of our time: climate change, water degradation, deforestation and desertification, resource-conflict, plastic pollution, drought, floods, fires, you name it!
Being at the frontier of retail that has its own pros and cons, we sit down with ourselves and consciously question our role in a world that is faced with wanton destruction and a massive appetite for fast consumption. The retail sector is charged to do better, to promote ethical production and consumption and champion for sustainability as it is the get-way that links indiscriminate consumption and the excesses of production, pollution and degradation. This is a bitter pill to swallow; the onus is on all of us as individuals and a collective to do better!
At the fashion retail front, it looks like slow fashion, buying from local and small businesses. Buying local also means directly contributing to local jobs creation that support a myriad of families and communities through meaningful and gainful employment. Village Market has always had a big heart for local and small brands, offering advisory and opportunity for upcoming and a wide range of proudly Made in Kenya small businesses. These brands that have grown into renowned brands include: Mille Collines, Sandstorm, Anselm Kitengela Hot Glass, Pinkopallino Gallery, One Way, Blue Rhino and Kikoy to new entrants like Zinj Design, Oda Omo, ZIA, KUZI, J&J, Maarkat, Maasai Treads, MOYO, Ikwetta and Zanta Adeyde to mention a few. We are immensely proud of the work these brands are doing to do business differently and better.
Sustainable Diets
Agriculture accounts for the largest cause of global environmental change. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, food loss and waste accounts to 30 percent of the food produced globally translating to a staggering 931 million tonnes of food. This calls for intentional awareness on how we handle and relate with food.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) coined a new concept “sustainable diets” defined as “diets with low environmental impacts that contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable;
nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.” We need to be the proverbial hummingbird and take small actions towards achieving sustainable diets. We need to limit the amount of food ending up in our trash cans and inevitably into the dumpsites.
Some practical tips include:
• Avoid impulse buys especially on purchases you normally do not utilize, this will reduce throwing away supplies that have expired.
• Buy exact quantities of vegetables and fresh produce instead of bulk or pre-bagged that most often than not ends up in the bins.
• Use all five senses to buy fresh produce: see, touch, smell and select fresh produce that can last longer at home.
• Storage, Storage, Storage. Find tips and tricks to lengthen the shelf life of fresh produce, consider sun drying, freezing or pickling. Leftovers should be used within three days, generally follow the first in and first out rule.
• Keep buying “mis-shapen” fruits and vegetables that would normally be thrown out by outlets, we eat food for nutrition value and not aesthetics.
• Be aware and alert of food labels: Best Before, Sell By, Expiry Date and ensure that dry produce is used up in good time.
• Go through your pantry while preparing the shopping list so that you can only buy items you need, the rule of thumb is to restock at 75%.
• Meal prepping sounds mundane but will save you a ton of time and money, plus it’s great for the environment. Always remember you are a captain planet!
• Vegetables are 90% water, bring them back to life by adding water when they appear wilted, they can perk right up.
• Make vegetable stock from veggie scraps and peels, eat vegetable skins of produce as often as possible. Every vegetable item is eatable, get creative!
• Plant roots in a pot to start a new plant life cycle, potted plants are not just aesthetically pleasing but also eatable. Now this is the real definition of farm to plate.
• Compost your waste, you will significantly contribute towards reducing greenhouse gasses emitted from dumpsites.
The call to sustain the environment is upon us! It is no longer for us to wait on organisations and conglomerates to devise policies to do it for us. We have what it takes to take care of mother earth in the day-to-day activities that we engage in. One way to do this effectively is in our responsible consumerism as stated above. Everyone has a role to play in quenching the fire that is quickly eroding our planet. As you read through the sustainability initiatives and stories documented in this issue, may it be a wake-up call for you to be a change agent within your area of influence be it at home or in the world of business. We have only one earth, let us take care of it, one sustainable action at a time.
Trademark Hotel has launched EVs for guest transfers to reduce their carbon footprint. The EVs are Nissan Leaf models provided by Hummingbird Transport and Equator Energy. These EVs are suitable for airport transfers at high-end hotels where guests prefer environmentally-friendly transportation options.
Tribe was conceived from a simple belief: that we coexist on a single planet and there is only one Tribe that matters… humankind. The interdependence of people and the environment plays a key role in the choice of products used within the hotel.
The fabric used in making Tribe's bathrobes is sourced locally from Siafu, a start-up organization that works with a group of local experienced weavers. The hand loomed fabric made uniquely for Tribe is curated for functionality and made only with organic cotton material bringing together simplicity and beauty. The fabric is stitched in house by our experienced tailors to make the bathrobes and slippers available in all our guest rooms.
Tribe maintains a benchmark of excellence in every aspect of its offerings and one key element is the luxurious experiences created using natural materials. The crockery used at Jiko, the African-themed restaurant, is made from natural clay by a local pottery firm, Tridenn Ceramics Limited. This is a young and growing business founded on the local rich heritage of clay craftsmanship and seeks to empower local artisans.
The Green Team is a group of staff from Village Market, Tribe, and Trademark who are interested in environmental projects related to sustainability and conservation of energy, water, and waste. They have spearheaded projects such as clean-ups, kitchen gardens, children's home visits, and annual tree planting at Karura Forest.
ACT is an organization that promotes upcycling and sustainable recycling of textiles within Kenya, with all profits going to charity. In its first six months, the project collected over one ton of clothes and footwear, which were used to create a prototype of corrugated iron sheets. ACT's goal is to create a blueprint for similar projects in other African countries. Village Market was the first shopping mall in Kenya to adopt the project.
Village Market embarked on a multi-million project to improve Limuru Road in 2016/2017, including converting it to a dual carriage, installing and maintaining streetlights, road markings, drainage, pavements, and conducting regular cleaning and maintenance. The project aimed to benefit the users of the road, nearby residents, businesses, and the public.
The mall has high water consumption and several sewer lines that connect to reservoirs from Trademark, Tribe, and Village Market outlets. Once the reservoirs are full, the wastewater is automatically sent to a treatment plant for a five-step process including solid particle removal, oxygen addition, bacteria addition, main treatment in a membrane bioreactor, and membrane filtration. Plans are in place to recycle the treated water for use in hotels, gardens along Limuru Road, and for fire emergencies.
Village Market has partnered with Green Miles Zero Waste Services Ltd to manage its waste using a circular economy model. As a result, the mall has achieved zero waste going to landfills, which aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including those related to clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and life on land.
Village Market has teamed up with Trash to Treasure (T3), a local recycling company, to recycle PET bottles and raise awareness about responsible disposal and upcycling of plastic. The partnership has created a life-sized whale made from over 60,000 collected bottles at the mall entrance, encouraging shoppers and the public to contribute to a sustainable solution for the global plastic problem by turning their PET plastic into textiles.
Village Market, in collaboration with the managing trustees of Friends of Karura, has launched an ambitious tree-planting initiative with a financial commitment of 2.07 million shillings and 9,000 indigenous seedlings. The Village Market has also given out 5000 free tree seedlings annually to its customers to encourage more tree planting in various neighborhoods.
Village Market has a history of collaborating with artists in response to humanitarian emergencies. In 2020, The Village Market started the Art in the Open pop-up market to support local artists working in various mediums such as visual arts and sculptures by providing them with an open-air setting to showcase their work. The bi-monthly initiative has been helping to support artists' livelihoods for the past three years.
Every June 5, which is World Environment Day, Village Market and its partners educate the public on ways to reduce carbon emissions, such as recycling shopping bags through the Jeans In and Bags Out initiative, planting trees, buying biodegradable products, responsible consumption, and waste separation. To support these efforts, Village Market gives plants as gifts to shoppers to encourage them to contribute to a greener ecosystem.
Apassionate philanthropist at heart, Dr Manish Shah is the Executive Chairman of the Kingsway Group of Companies who wears many hats. By day he is a savvy businessman and environmentalist, by night he is a doting husband and father. He smiles and his eyes sparkle, radiating a warmth that comes from within.
He is not only a highly respected leader in the industry, but also a mentor with a strong desire to impart the younger generation with leadership skills and an appetite for social change. Dr Shah strongly believes that the future of the business world lies in the hands of young people, and is committed to doing everything he can to help them succeed. The zeal with which he shares nuggets of wisdom is unmatched. A highly influential businessman who possesses an infectious energy that spreads to everyone around him with an unwavering focus and dedication to make this world a better place.
His journey into caring for the environment started with the story of The Hugging Saint, who upon receiving various expensive gifts valued most a seedling she was given by an 80-year-old woman. A gift of little monetary worth but immense value within which lies the cure for humanity. This was more than a wake-up call for him to use his resources to do more to safeguard the environment; to create a serene environment which does not need protecting.
“When we feel more connected to the environment, we are more likely to want to protect and treat it with respect,” he states. It is this deep connection that has caused him to embark on an audacious goal as an Earthkeeper to plant more than 200,000 seedlings translating to 10,000 plus acres of green cover by the end of 2023. “Spending time in nature can be a powerful way to heal our souls. It can help us feel more connected to the world around us and provide a sense of peace and calm.” he further says.
The title of his recently published book, The Earthkeepers is coined from the traditional society set-up in which the elders ensured that their people and nature co-existed. The elder is then termed as the earthkeeper; custodian of the earth. In line with this, Dr Shah answers the call to be an Earthkeeper.
The book gives guidance on how we can all be earthkeepers, highlighting tree planting and sustainability projects that are already underway. It is a book that seeks to inspire and elicit ownership of actions for nature not as a place to visit but as home. The book is a light read detailing the ongoing challenges in the environmental space and provides a lot of opportunities for collaboration, and diversification of sustainable solutions, development of renewable energy sources, sustainable agriculture, and the promotion of ecotourism.
The book details an ingenious way of conserving the environment by planting Bambusa bamboos, a renewable and sustainable resource with low water requirement and an ability to absorb 32% more CO2 than any other plant. The first harvest of bamboo does not need any water from external sources and can therefore survive on its own thus requiring little to no tending.
Since the inception of the Bambusa bamboos project, many farmers and their families are opening new ventures and expanding their horizons. Dr Shah has partnered with industrial training institutes to ensure skilling of rural workers, foreseeing up to 6,000 jobs being created in the 47 counties. This project will as a result see many farmers have a secure income to take care of their families, health and wellbeing.
In summary, the Earthkeepers is a guided effort to make deliberate choices that are in line with our values, beliefs and most of all a heartfelt call to action. Earthkeepers is not just a book Dr Shah has written, but a movement.
Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Dr Manish Shah.
By Silvia Okuom
skills training. The foundation believes that education is the key to empowerment and providing the confidence to generate business ideas.
To date, through the Lintons Foundation 31 students have graduated from the Lintons Beauty Academy where they have gained skills in beauty artistry and entrepreneurship. This has helped them gain the confidence to build their own businesses and become financially independent.
Lintons Foundation is a beacon of hope for women and youth from less-privileged backgrounds in Kenya. It was founded by Lintons Beauty World in 2021 to provide tertiary education and training to those who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities. The aim is to equip them with beauty artistry, entrepreneurship skills and knowledge needed to build sustainable livelihoods and improve their overall well-being.
It is a sad reality that almost 60% of women in Kenya lack basic education and a source of income, which perpetuates socio-economic poverty. Lintons Foundation is committed to changing this narrative by offering marginalised women and youth entrepreneurial and beauty
Another initiative that Lintons Foundation has embarked on is the "Embrace a Girl and Play a Part" campaign. This campaign seeks to address the issue of menstrual health management (MHM) and its impact on the social and economic advancement of Kenyan women. Approximately one million school-age girls miss an average of four school days per month due to their menstrual cycle and lack of access to feminine hygiene products. To address this challenge, Lintons Beauty World has partnered with the MINA foundation to provide a sustainable menstrual product called MINA. MINA is a menstrual cup that seeks to change the lives of women by providing them with a sustainable, healthy, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly means of managing menstruation.
The goal for Lintons Beauty World and Lintons Foundation for 2023 is to enable 10,000 girls to remain in school through the provision of MINA cups. This is a noble initiative that will help to keep girls in school and prevent them from missing out on valuable education.
To purchase a MINA cup and keep a girl in school, you can donate via Paybill number
4026595, Account number MINA. You can also drop a cheque addressed to Lintons Foundation at the head office located at Kenrail Towers, 2nd floor, Northern Wing.
Lintons Foundation is an organization that is transforming the lives of girls, women and youth in Kenya. Through education and training, it is empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods. By supporting initiatives like "Embrace a Girl and Play a Part," we can all play a role in helping to keep girls in school and provide them with the opportunities they need to achieve their full potential.
As the creator of Botanical Beauty since 1959, Yves Rocher is committed to providing high-quality beauty products that are good for you and the earth. Natural ingredients are handpicked, while minimising unnecessary and unstainable packaging.
At Yves Rocher, protecting nature is a family value which runs through the brand’s veins, like sap in a tree. Nature is not a concept; it is the brand’s lifestyle. Nature is respected because we live with it. Yves Rocher makes women beautiful while keeping the planet beautiful.
Fifty years of experience means invaluable know-how. As the originator, Yves Rocher is still in the lead, offering natural beauty products that are more potent and more compassionate. Every ingredient and formula is guaranteed to be safe. Every formula is effective, prioritizing organic agriculture. Yves Rocher does not use endangered plants, GMOs, or animal-based ingredients. The brand uses Eco-design packaging because it cares about the environment.
Around 81% of Yves Rocher’s ingredients are of natural origin, and 100% of its active
ingredients are botanical. And to take it a step further, the brand has excluded 300 ingredients in addition to the 1,300 already prohibited by European regulations. For example:
• In 2010, the company removed all silicones that are not easily biodegradable from their shampoos
• In 2018, polyethylene micro-beads were removed from scrubs and exfoliants, before they were banned by legislation
• In 2019, the company removed polymers that are not easily biodegradable from all hair products
• 100% of tshower gels and shampoos are easily biodegradable
Since the beginning, Yves Rocher has believed that there are no small gestures for building a better future. Naturalness and eco-design are the green threads of the development of our products.
At Yves Rocher, the packaging is reduced to only what is essential, and the brand has been working for a long time to minimise its use of plastic. For example, our concentrated shower gels make it possible thanks to their formulation that allows for as many showers with a small 100ml bottle as with
a 400ml bottle. That’s 50% less plastic per shower, with no less enjoyment.
Meanwhile, since September 2021, a new openwork case on Yves Rocher’s skin care products generate 40% cardboard savings, i.e., 78 tonnes over one year.
To take it further, the brand has also created the Green Heroes product line (solid shampoos, face care) effective concentrates, for a ZERO plastic waste alternative. And it continues its efforts a bit more every day to reduce the use of plastic by exploring reload and reuse solutions – stay tuned!
For our packaging, we have chosen to use recyclable materials and recycled materials whenever possible. Since 2020, all brand bottles leaving our plants have been made from 100% recycled plastic, which is still recyclable. This represents savings of virgin plastic of over 2,700 tonnes a year.
Introducing Babyshop, a company that has revolutionised the production of infant and baby clothes by using the latest innovation in textile technology –mint fibre.
Mint fibre is a new biodegradable cellulose fibre which is infused with mint powder that is extracted from peppermint leaves. It is a natural alternative to synthetic fibres, such as polyester and nylon, which are notorious for their harmful impact on the environment. Mint fibre technology offers numerous benefits that make it the perfect choice for baby clothes.
One of the key advantages of mint fibre is its breathability. Unlike synthetic fibres, which can trap moisture and heat, mint fibre allows air to circulate freely, keeping babies cool and comfortable all day long. This is especially important for infants who are prone to overheating and skin irritations.
Mint fibre is also hypoallergenic, making it ideal for babies with sensitive skin. It is free from harsh chemicals and toxins that can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations, which are common in many synthetic fabrics. Additionally, mint fibre has natural anti-bacterial properties that help to prevent odours and keep baby clothes fresh and clean for longer.
In terms of durability, mint fibre is a great choice for baby clothes as it is strong and resistant to wear and tear. It can withstand frequent washing and exposure to sunlight without losing its shape or color.
At Babyshop, we are committed to providing parents with high-quality, sustainable and affordable baby clothes that are gentle on their little one's skin and the environment. By using mint fibre technology in our production, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for our children.
In conclusion, if you want to give your baby the best start in life, choose Babyshop
and our range of mint fibre baby clothes. You can be confident that your baby will be comfortable, safe, and stylish, while also doing your part in protecting the planet.
Since 2013, Zia has been a leading clothing brand in the Kenyan fashion industry. What started out as a side hustle, has quickly become a movement to champion sustainable fashion in Africa.
Zia is a Made in Kenya sustainable fashion brand which seeks to provide access to quality, unique and timeless styles.
Our sustainable fashion line is locally sourced and handmade from high-quality, 100% organic cotton, and recycled materials. We have carefully selected our fabrics to ensure that they are not only sustainable but also durable and comfortable to wear. Our designs are timeless and versatile, making them perfect for any occasion.
By 2025, the Zia sustainability strategy aims to drive the brand to become the leading platform for sustainable fashion in Africa. Our mission is to design and produce high-quality, timeless fashion pieces that are made from sustainable materials and produced in an ethical and transparent manner. We strive to minimize
our environmental footprint by using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and promoting circularity.
We aim to support and empower local communities by partnering with fair trade organisations and providing fair wages and safe working conditions for our workers. Ultimately, we want to create a fashion industry that is sustainable, ethical, and socially responsible.
We are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and our community.
We hope through our collections, you're inspired to join the sustainable revolution. Join us in our mission to create a more sustainable future through fashion! ZIA
MOYO ('soul' in Kiswahili) is a highend sustainable fashion brand empowering small workshops and independent artisans in Kenya. The journey started in a café in Rotterdam where a group of women and I, Andra, founder and designer of the brand, came together to learn the skill of crafting a garment and working with patterns. Relocation to Africa followed. Once in Kenya, the powerful entrepreneurial spirit of the people, their artistic potential and the need for work made the dream of designing my own pieces come true.
Comfortable, timeless items define MOYO. We firmly believe in fashion made for the good of both those who make our clothes and our clients by creating versatile pieces that
linen, recycle by making jewellery from the left over Kenyan leather we use for our bags, source some of our fabrics, especially those with cultural significance, locally, and use only natural materials.
Creating a soulful brand requires ethics and appreciation towards our people. We seek to support a thriving work environment by how we relate to workers, optimal working conditions through safe premises that are well lit for clear eyesight at the sewing machines, as well as fair wages.
Training people into certain standards of perfection takes time and requires patience and appreciation. The empowerment we aim for does
not only happen by creating job opportunities, but also by treating our people with respect, embracing their struggles and patiently introducing them to new perspectives and ideas that will create a wish for achieving high standards which will make them proud.
compliment femininity through their minimalist, easy-to-accessorize look. Our patterns transcend time and trends making them an investment into both present and future. All made by wonderful people in amazing workshops.
The reason I chose 'MOYO' is that sustainability cannot happen without us pouring our soul into it and doing things with a heart for people, product and planet. Zooming in on the latter, next to producing locally, we upcycle dead stock from Italian fashion houses, use organic
Having a dream come true, seeing and interacting with so many happy clients, branching ourselves into sustainability and supporting the local market by believing in its potential to create exclusively beautiful pieces has been an intrinsically rewarding process. While aiming for perfection we also embrace the imperfections of the handmade reflecting the artistry of the one creating, always refining the details that make the ‘artwork’ complete and striving to minimise the impact our production has on the environment. Welcome to enjoy our pieces and chat more on sustainability and conscious fashion.
MOYO
Call: 0715 552 133
Located on Ground Floor, Old Wing
As France’s most iconic lingerie brand since 1916, WeCare is Etam’s programme for social and environmental commitments to more sustainable fashion. As of 2021, 40% of our products were ecofriendly and our target is to achieve 80% in 2025. WeCare products contain at least 50% of eco-friendly fibres or benefit from an innovation that significantly reduces their environmental footprint.
In order to reduce our environmental impact, we are using more and more recycled or organic fibres for our collections, certified by independent international labels, such as GOTS or GRS. In 2021, 50% of our products were eco-responsible and 80% of our collections will be by 2025. Zero single-use plastic for our customers by 2025: this is the commitment we made by signing the fashion pact.
For more than 200 years, we have supported women to make them feel free. To support them when they need it most, we are continuing our commitment to associations and organizations that help improve their situations through concrete actions.
Discover without filters and in complete transparency beyond the scenes of the factories manufacturing our products. Direct access to manufacturing locations instantly in-store and on the website. Since the end of 2021, 100% of our products have been disclosing their production behind the scenes.
Act now to protect the environment. Plastic pollution is a national and global menace. Plastic products, especially single-use plastics, are a significant source of solid waste pollution. Drainages clog during the rainy season, solid waste pollutes rivers, lakes, and oceans, and marine birds and animals confuse plastics with food.
Scientists have recorded a female albatross feeding its chick a plastic toothbrush, a sea horse using plastic earbuds to ride ocean waves, and a 12-cm long plastic straw inside the nostril of an olive ridley sea turtle. Several dead marine animals have been washed ashore. They starved to death because their stomachs were full of plastic, which is indigestible.
Greening your lifestyle is essential in beating plastic pollution. Avoid single-use plastics.
Segregate your waste at home or business.
Send recyclable waste to drop-off points at the Village Market Mall. Remember, not all plastics are recyclable. Additionally, switch to plastic-free products, where possible.
Verte Environmental Solutions sells a wide range of ecofriendly products and plastic-free alternatives for homes and businesses to help you beat plastic pollution. Start your day with a bamboo toothbrush. Our toothbrushes are made of bamboo handles. The bristles, however, are made of BPA-free nylon. Bamboo toothbrush bristles were previously made of coarse hog hair.
History records toothbrushes made of silver gilt handles and horsehair bristles. These animal-based bristles had challenges. Nylon bristles are the best option as they are 100% waterproof and long-lasting. To dispose of an old bamboo toothbrush, pluck off the nylon bristles with a pair of pliers and send them for recycling. You can compost the bamboo handle.
Green your beauty routine with our gorgeous and giftable bamboo makeup brushes. The brushes are made up of compostable and biodegradable bamboo handles. The metal ring, and the soft nylon bristles that give you a perfectly finished look, are recyclable. The brushes are a set of 11, packed in a beautiful
animal-print pouch that affirms our love for Kenya’s stunning natural environment.
On the go? Swap single-use plastic cutlery with a reusable travel cutlery set. Our bamboo travel cutlery set is lightweight, reusable, and has all you need in a simple yet elegant canvas pack. The set is great for a safari and eating while commuting from point A to B.
The reusable bamboo travel cutlery set consists of a bamboo spoon, bamboo fork, bamboo knife, bamboo pair of chopsticks, and straw cleaning brushes. It also includes reusable, plastic-free drinking straws, depending on your choice. They include bamboo smoothie and juice straws, silver-colored metal juice and smoothie straws, and rose gold-colored metal juice and smoothie straws.
Karibu sana!At Halfpriced Books we sell preowned books as an initiative for sustainability. We strive to promote the reading culture and combat illiteracy by making world class titles accessible to readers and keeping the books affordable.
The production of physical books, newspapers and magazines consumes up to 153 billion gallons of water each year, with each book consuming an average of two kilowatt hours of fossil fuels and approximately 7.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
The decomposition of books has even greater effects on the environment.
The purchase of pre-owned books in the ecosystem is essential. Buying pre-owned books makes it so that books aren't being wasted in disposal. It ensures that classics continue to circulate the ecosystem. Buying and selling pre-owned books is affordable therefore ensuring that all can access reading material thereby increasing literacy.
We purchase pre-owned books in mint condition and resell them at affordable prices. At Halfpriced Books, we have more than 20,000 titles of pre-owned books. Our focus is acquiring some of the best titles as pre-owned in order to distribute all over Kenya and East Africa. Our model ensures that we continue to sell pre-owned books enabling us to contribute to a green environment. We also give back to the community through
our CSR activities. To that end, we have donated more than 50,000 books to 127 institutions that include NGOs, school libraries and community libraries across the 47 counties in Kenya.
We have set up a donation station at our store at the village market to allow booklovers the opportunity to donate through us.
Find us at the New wing, next to CJ's.
Africa Collect Textiles is a local brand that has been instrumental in the success of Village Market's efforts towards responsible consumption, production, and ethical consumerism. The brand has a unique business model that focuses on sustainability and social impact, making it a perfect fit
for the Village Market's ethos.
One of the key features of Africa Collect Textiles is its use of locally sourced materials. These materials are sourced by the use of collection bins that are strategically placed in the city including one at Village Market where we encourage the local community to drop off their unwanted textiles for collection by ACT.
By sourcing locally, ACTS reduces its carbon footprint and supports local communities especially impoverished women in the rural areas through their re-seller’s program. This approach ensures that the brand's products are not only eco-friendly but also socially responsible.
The brand's focus on upcycling and repurposing textiles is also a great example of circular fashion, as it reduces the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfill.
The African Queen denim rugs and upcycled uniform backpacks are two of the brand's most popular products, and they both fit the environmental and social criteria of The Village Market. The denim rugs are made from upcycled denim jeans, reducing the amount of waste in landfills and rivers. The upcycled uniform backpacks are made from old uniforms from security and game ranger companies, repurposing the materials and giving them a new life.
The brand's commitment to environmental sustainability and social impact is also reflected in its production process. Africa Collect Textiles employs locals in the textile recycling industry, providing employment opportunities in an eco-friendly industry. This approach not only creates sustainable livelihoods but also supports the local economy.
In conclusion, Africa Collect Textiles is a brand that perfectly embodies the Village Market's ethos of responsible consumption, production, and ethical consumerism. The company’s focus on sustainability and social impact through the use of locally sourced raw materials, upcycling, and circular fashion is an inspiration to the local community. The denim rugs and upcycled uniform backpacks are great examples of how the brand is championing environmental sustainability and social impact through its products. By featuring with Africa Collect Textiles in the magazine, The Village Market is showcasing the brand as a shining example of responsible and sustainable fashion.
KUZI
Are you ready for some good news? We at Pizza Hut are already one step ahead in the game of being an eco-friendly brand. We are already a green machine! As proud members of the Yum! Brands family, we are part of a company that's cooking up a recipe for good for all. Yum!'s sustainability program, called Recipe for Good, sets ambitious goals to reduce the company's carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the planet. We're making significant changes to reduce our carbon footprint and have already taken some fantastic steps towards being more environmentally responsible. Here are some of the ways we are doing it:
Firstly, we have switched to 100% recycled cardboard boxes for our pizzas. That's right – 100% recycled! This means that after you have demolished your pizza (yum!), the boxes can be recycled again. Plus, we are now serving pizzas on paddles for dine-in customers, which helps reduce waste and keeps the planet happy.
But wait, there's more. We use Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)-powered gas ovens, which is a fancy way of saying that we are using a fuel source that's better for the environment. We also use LED lighting in many of our restaurants, which saves energy and is a more energy-efficient option than traditional lighting.
Now let's talk about the ingredients – we are dedicated to using sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. We have partnered with local growers who are held to strict quality assurance audits to ensure that they're meeting global standards. This approach allows us to provide fresh, sustainable ingredients while also supporting the local community and reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
But we are not stopping there. Pizza Hut has also taken other measures to reduce our environmental impact.
For example, we are using smaller sauce containers to reduce packaging waste, reducing water usage, and using eco-friendly cleaning products.
We are loving being green!
Call: +2547 057 130061
Email:village@liberty-eagle.com
www.pizzahut.co.ke
Located on Ground FloorNew Extension
At the Local Grill, we collaborate with farmers across Kenya who use sustainable processes to produce the highest quality meat. We work closely with these farms to ensure that their cows meet our standards. We are proud to serve mostly grass-fed beef, which is not only better for the environment but also more ethical, sustainable and nutrient dense than grain-fed beef. By allowing the animals to graze freely, they improve land use, nutrient and manure management, and soil health, all of which contribute to a reduced carbon footprint.
Call: 2547 057 130061
Email:reservations@thelocalgrill.co.ke
www.thelocalgrill.co.ke
Located on First level -Garden Lounge
Bubble Tea, part of Taiwanese culture, has been popping up all over the world in recent years. Adding to the growing list of places offering it, Bubbles and Twist is a new grab-and-go concept at the Village Market.
The twist on bubble tea has never been done before, and we have come up with an idea to popularize this with our exciting new signature flavours.
This new spot for handcrafted Bubble Tea, Gyros and Boba Sundaes is located in the New Wing Food Court. With something for everyone, it’s definitely a “Sweet Affair!”
Call: 0719 282 253 Email:bubble@twistllp@yahoo.com
Decor Interiors Limited, based in Kenya, is committed to sustainable Furniture Design and eco conscious living. We believe this can be successfully achieved while transforming the lives of Women. This is at the core of our work
Our Furniture Collection is Plant based. Sisal, an agave plant, grows extensively across Kenya in rural areas. Over the last twelve years our product design and development team has explored the potential of the natural fibre from Sisal in terms of application, versatility and durability that extends beyond basketry. The results are simply outstanding.
Working closely with Women within their homes, the Team has guided communities to sustainably extract the plant fibre from Sisal. The plant fibre is dried and prepared using traditional methods that do not produce any harmful emissions or by-products. In fact, the green pulp that is removed from the fibre is used as compost for planting and feeding livestock.
Through these partnerships based on trust, respect and dialogue. Families receive a steady source of income while tending to their daily tasks. The Company currently sources Sisal from 120 women.
In Nairobi at our workshops a talented and highly skilled production team converts the pant fibre into finished products. Our Collection of Furniture is innovative in design and application. Revolutionising the standard of quality of local handcrafted products in Kenya and across Africa.
While Lifting Lives with every step.
Collection can be found at African Lifestyle Hub First Floor New Extension
Avni Shah is a Kenyan-based artist who has honed her skills to capture the emerging trends in the art communities. She has advanced her paintings to fit the modern style of constructing art. Through explorations in contemporary art, the artist has found a powerful medium for new perception, expression, and an awakening of new consciousness.
These works are deeply influenced by local urban scenes which reflect the complexities and contradictions of the modern world, nature, and abstraction. From the mundane to the profound, she seeks to capture the essence of what it means to be human, and to provoke thought and dialogue through her art. Shah has embarked on an extraordinary artistic undertaking for the past three years. She has been passionately creating a stunning collection of 100 paintings which will be on display at the Village Market from the June 21 to July 3.
The artist’s creative process is highly intuitive and experimental, drawing from a range of media, techniques, textures, to create unique and dynamic compositions. She has swiftly made a name for herself in the modern art world. The idea of not controlling the surface and the painting having a say in it was a feeling of total liberation. She is constantly challenging herself to push the boundaries of what is possible with each configuration, and to embrace the unknown and unexpected in her work. Every day comes with a promise of creating art in a different form. This illustrations of expressive style of painting have allowed the artist to have a stronger voice in what is called “Art of Today”.
An example of the fields she has explored in recent time is contemporary wildlife art. Fundamentally, as a modernistic wildlife artist, exploring new and innovative patterns to interpret and express their forms and movements has become the norm. She combines these elements with immeasurable imagery to create a peculiar and striking visual language. The creative process is both instinctive and deliberate, and often involves a combination of traditional and contemporary execution. Ultimately, the painter’s goal is to inspire a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world, and to encourage others to appreciate and guard the diverse array of animal life that share our planet.
IG-@african.artist.avni
Facebook: Avni Shah
Maryann Muthoni is a seasoned artist, specialising on mosaic art. Her passion is to explore the mosaic medium and apply it in our modern-day living. Through the craft, she creates mosaic artworks in buildings, creates functional items like mosaic table-tops, garden mosaics, mosaic sculptures and many more items that one can enjoy.
She is also the founder and director of Kueneza Arts Ltd. An artistic company that trades on art projects that are of architectural context.
Kueneza Arts is an artistic company that was incorporated in 2009 by Muthoni Gathenya. Muthoni is a visual artist with vast experience in the Kenyan and international art scene. ‘Kueneza’ a Swahili word meaning spread, and Muthoni’s intention is to ensure that we are surrounded by beauty of mosaics all the time.
At Kueneza Arts, dedication, talent, passion, and professionalism is the driving force ensuring the company remains relevant and consistent when delivering to its clients. Kueneza Arts has successfully delivered many projects since its inception.
Out of passion for visual art, Muthoni felt there was a need to step out of her painting studio and engage with developers, architects, interior designers, civil engineers, city planners, and project managers to bring a different feel and beauty to all our spaces.
Kueneza Arts offers mosaic murals that can be incorporated in residential, commercial, hospitality, religious and educational buildings. Their style ranges from classical to contemporary designs that are carefully designed to bring out the beauty of our environment, shape the identity of a building or confirm the status of a client.
www.kuenezarts.com
www.facebook.com/kuenezaArts: Instagram: @kueneza_arts
Exhibitor Dates
Solomon Ngecha 8th June -18th June
Anwar Sadat 17th August – 27th August
Exhibitor Dates
Avni Shah
22nd June – 2nd July
Jjuuko Arts 6th July – 16th July
Ssebandeke Muhammed 20th July – 30th July
Umoja Arts Gallery 3rd August -13th August
Art and Heart of Africa Group 17th August- 27th August
Paul Akiki 31st August- 10th September
House of Rust is set in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa and revolves around a Hadrami Girl, Aisha. She wants to own her name, and when her fisherman father is lost at sea, Aisha hops on a magical boat made of a fish skeleton to find anda rescue him.
On her journey to rescue her father, Aisha encounters three terrifying sea monsters. She survives a confrontation with Baba wa Papa (father of all sharks), eventually rescuing her father, hoping life returns to normal. Khadija knows precisely how to tell stories of sea adventures.
House of Rust transcends descriptive, imaginative, and unusual detail to capture a magical realist coming-of-age story. The novel is a thrilling tale regaled through Mombasa’s prism of Swahili and Hadramic culture on the Kenyan coast.
Through her writing, the author, Khadija Abdallah Bajaber, ensures that the novel is firm, dignified, and wonderful, as Aisha remains the unshrinking heroine. The talking animals depict various real-life scenarios of people with wisdom, yet they remain stoic and endearing at the same time.
House of Rust goes beyond magical realism to highlight social commentaries. The marriage issue brings out a fiery conversation between Aisha and Hababa, highlighting deep-rooted ethnic claims and the nexus to pride and belonging.
Generally, House of Rust captures the intrigues of religion, cultural awareness, love, belonging, tasteful storytelling, and the reality of self-discovery. House of Rust is a timeless masterpiece that demands the attention it is getting. The author masterfully weaves Hadrami storytelling and has earned the Graywolf Press Africa Prize for the work.
Get yourself a copy from Halfpriced Books.
Thirteen outfits and counting. This was my first time. I had a separate outfit for every day I stepped out. I packed shirts, dresses, jeans, shoes, hats and bags. I was vacation ready! I had a different outfit for each day we were out and bought even more. I bought books, lots of books, and my suitcases were both weighing more than they should have.
This was long before I interacted with sustainability, eco-tourism or even backpacking. Way before I knew of capsule wardrobes. Before I knew that green and travel could be on the same sentence. Taking a flight may leave a large carbon footprint, however this is no reason to not quench your wanderlust. There are so many ways to keep your footprint light wherever you go. I have come to know better and would like to take you all on a journey on how to travel green in the simplest of ways.
• Visit the roads less travelled
There’s a lot more that remains undiscovered, choose to travel local as opposed to international. Walk around and discover new places. As you
cross-check your travel bucket list, consider places that receive less tourists, those might just end up being the most magnificent. Just because it is not talked about on social media does not mean it’s not great. Adventure might just be next door!
• Follow the locals, soak in the culture
A great way to enjoy your vacation is to fully learn and take in the culture of the place that you are in. Instead of jumping in and out of cities, spend a bit more time. This helps you walk instead of taking connecting trains or buses. Learn the culture and ways of the people and follow them to get the most authentic dishes prepared with raw organic ingredients.
• Forfeit that extra-long shower; just this once I am a culprit of taking unnecessarily long hot showers whenever away from home. It does something to your creative juices. However, this is not the best use of the available resources. Get clean and jump out. Use cloth towels instead of the readily available paper towels. Switch off the TV, AC or lights when not in use. You not paying
the bills is not reason enough to be irresponsible. Take good care of that space as though it were your own.
• Support local businesses
Purchasing products from the local stores goes a long way; spices, jewellery, arts and crafts, local farmers’ market and pop-up stores. There is a lot of beautiful artisanal souvenirs you will get while promoting the economic. While at it carry a tote bag and skip the packaging.
• Street food for the win
This is a welcome change that will offer you flavorful bitings that you are not likely to find in a restaurant or resort. This ensures that you reduce the amount of packaging from take-out or store bought snacks. Instead of one-use plastic water, carry a water bottle and refill at every spot to limit the amount of plastic trail you leave behind.
Happy green travelling!
By Silvia Okuom
Millions of people in the Horn of Africa are trapped in a hunger emergency as the region lurches from crisis to crisis: the longest drought in recorded history has given way to rains and flash flooding, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned today.
Food and energy prices remain stubbornly high as the impact of the conflict in Sudan reverberates around the region.
“Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks – the Horn of Africa region is facing multiple crises simultaneously,” said Michael Dunford, WFP regional director for Eastern Africa.
After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, flooding has replaced drought, killing livestock and damaging farmland, further shattering livelihoods. “And now the outbreak of conflict in Sudan is forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.”
When the region’s long-awaited rains arrived in March, they should have brought some relief. But instead, flash flooding inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock, and closed schools and health facilities. Yet more people were forced from their homes: 219,000 people in southern Somalia, where 22 people were also killed.
After three years of drought, more than 23 million people across parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia face severe hunger. Mortality and malnutrition rates remain a serious cause for concern.
Consecutive failed harvests and high transport
costs have pushed food prices far beyond the reach of millions in the region. A food basket in Eastern Africa in March 2023 cost 40 percent more than a year ago. In Ethiopia, fuel prices have almost doubled in a year.
It will take years for the region to recover, and humanitarian assistance is a lifeline. Yet, limited humanitarian resources are being stretched further still by the conflict in Sudan, which has sent over 250,000 people fleeing into neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan where food insecurity is already desperately high.
Nari, a mother to four boys and three girls, in Riwota, Kapoeta North, South Sudan, said: “I used to plant okra, maize, sorghum… but, with the drought, everything died.
“I only have money to send three of my children to school and even this is difficult.” She added: “Before receiving food from WFP, I collected wild fruits to eat and charcoal to sell in the market, but sometimes I wouldn’t sell it and I would go to sleep hungry.”
Last year, WFP and partners launched a rapid scale up of life-saving assistance in drought-hit Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, which helped to keep famine at bay in Somalia. But now WFP is facing a funding crunch and is being forced to scale back assistance.
“WFP’s rapid expansion of life-saving assistance helped prevent famine in Somalia in 2022,” said WFP’s Michael Dunford. “But despite the emergency being far from over, funding shortfalls
are already forcing us to reduce assistance to those who still desperately need it. Adding: “Without sustainable funding for both emergency and climate-adaptation solutions, the next climate crisis could bring the region back to the brink of famine.”
Visiting Somalia earlier this month, WFP executive director Cindy McCain said: “Conflict and drought are devastating millions of Somalis. Children are paying the highest price of all. Nearly 500,000 children are at risk of dying. How many more must perish? The world has to step up now.”
By the end of 2022, WFP was distributing food assistance to a record 4.7 million people in Somalia. But in April, funding shortfalls forced WFP to reduce this to 3 million people. Without additional funds, WFP will have to further reduce the emergency food assistance caseload in Somalia to just 1.8 million by July. This means that almost 3 million people will not receive support, despite their continuing needs.
WFP urgently requires US$810 million over the next six months to keep life-saving assistance going and invest in long-term resilience in the Horn of Africa.
Since 2013, Zia has been a leading clothing brand in the Kenyan fashion industry. What started out as a side hustle, has quickly become a movement to champion sustainable fashion in Africa. Zia is a Made in Kenya sustainable clothing brand which seeks to provide access to quality, unique and timeless styles. Our mission is to create high-quality, sustainable clothing that is both fashionable and environmentally responsible. We believe that fashion should not come at the cost of the planet, and we are committed to reducing our environmental impact through every step of our production process.
Runway, Nairobi’s first H&M discount outlet, has officially opened its doors at Village Market. Offering a wide range of fashionable apparel at affordable prices, ranging from KES 1,190 to 4,990, fashion enthusiasts in Nairobi can now explore a diverse collection of high-quality clothing options, including trendy dresses, stylish tops, comfortable bottoms, and accessories that cater to their unique fashion tastes.
With its grand opening, Runway aims to provide an exceptional shopping experience while empowering individuals to express their personal style through affordable fashion. Don't miss the exciting launch promotions, discounts, and special offers available at Runway – your ultimate destination for stylish and budget-friendly clothing options.
ARTS, CRAFTS & GIFTS
Anselm Kitengela Hot Glass 0722 523 284 villagemarket@kitengela.com
Artz Gallery 0728 502 676 artzzs52@gmail.com
Blue Rhino 0723 559 454 info@bluerhinoafrica.com
Crafts & Colors
0786 255 155 operations@craftsandcolours.com
Kalabash 0724 372 111 kalabash@gmail.com
Party Colours
0707 233 444 faralayal@gmail.com
Rupa's Gift Centre 0743 794 779 villagemarket@rupasgiftcentre.co.ke
Toy World 0700 611 555 toyshouse@africaonline.co.ke
ELECTRONICS
Airtel Store 0780 602 262 alice.njeri@ke.airtel.com
Anisuma
0781 102 747 retail.village@anisumakenya.com
Credible Sounds 0741 411 963 crediblesoundsvillagemarket@ credible sounds.com
Flint Home Integrators 0720 546 120 info@flinthomeintegrators@gmail.com
Fonezone 0710 417 686 njerikimani472@gmail.com
Hotpoint Appliances
0203 699 000 vmretail@hotpoint.co.ke
Nikon 0727 802 220 village@isl.co.ke
Technology House 0207 122 905 village@techhouse.co.ke
Telkom Kenya
0772 317 275 mwmusonye@telkom.co.ke
Safaricom Service Centre 0722 002 374 villagemarket@safaricom.co.ke
Salute I World 0795 934 129 info@saluteiworld.com
Samsung 0714 874 662 belinda@tricom.co.ke
Zuku 0799 317 546 / 0719 028 200 grace@ke.wananchi.com
ESSENTIALS & OTHER SERVICES
AA Kenya – Driving School 0709 333 002 aavillagek@gmail.com
Aramex 0707 692 975 / 0737 000 248 bryank@aramex.com
Blue Lily Flower Shop 0796 886 858 bluelilyflowercrafts@gmail.com
Camp More/Bits And Bobs 0714 960 773 bitsandbobs@unipro.co.ke
Carrefour Market First Floor Old Wing
Chapa Copy 0700 866 089 villagemarket@chapacopy.com
Chemi Chemi Wines and Spirits Ltd 0728577904 chemichemivillage@gmail.com
Densey Travel info@denseytravel.com 0721 332 113
DHL 0711 017 133 millie.kariuki@dhl.com
GBC Nairobi 0724177174 karen@gbcims.com
Halfpriced Bookshop 0745 222 763 halfprice2019@gmail.com
JIT Group Offices 020 7125 680
Kenya Valuers Estate Agent 0722206517/0722206536/0727572836 kv@kenyavaluers.com www.kenyavaluers.com
Kingsway Tyres Limited 0733 699 514 village@kingswaytyres.com ahmed.siddik@kingswaytyres.com
Kuzi 0715 125 535 villagemarket@kuzitrading.com elvis@kuzitrading.com
Lorenzo Professional DryCleaners
011 349 9854 galicelorenzo@gmail.com
Mindhub Coding Academy
+254 741 113 788 mh.nairobi@mindhub.co.ke
Miniso 0723 709 190 minisovillagemarket@gmail.com
MySafe 0707129324
grace@mysafe.ae
Park N Go
020 7122 488
Phoenix Safaris 010 180 0806 010 180 0801 operations@phoenixsafaris.de
Post Office
0735 764 673 pmrvillagemarket@posta.co.ke
Samsonite
0769 297 852 villagesamsonite@saluteholdings.com
Shifaz Veterinary Clinic & Petstore
0725 711 896 / 0722 511 761 dr.zulfikar_moshinali@yahoo.com
Text Book Centre 0730 735 157 villagemarket@tbc.co.ke
Tintoria Dry Cleaners 0729 329 404 operationsmanager@tintoria.co.ke
Village Cellar 0722807999 villagecellar2021@gmail.com
Village Photoshop 0705 813 913 villagephotoshop@gmail.com
Village Service Centre 0721 296 530 owinojoshua@yahoo.com
VMX Fitness 0708 000 621 hello@vmx-fitness.com
Wina Classic 0101 800 801 wina@winaclassic.co.ke
Wynton House of Music 0713 908 411 info@wyntonmusic.com
Zucchini Greengrocers
0726 333 446 info@zucchini.co.ke
Ballpoint Social Club fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
0790 980494
Village Bowl 020 7122 477 / 476 fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
Glitch- VR Gaming 020 7122 911 fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
O-Zone Trampoline Park
020 7123 141 fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
REV Virtual Racing
Experience
0746 723 807 fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
The Yard – Minigolf 0720 053 374
Under The Sea 020 7122 911 fun@villagemarket-kenya.com
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Adenzo Comfies 0728999111 adenzocomfies1@gmail.com
Adidas 0714 201 142/0732 201 140 villagenbhd@nairobisportshouse.com
African Lifestyle Hub 0724 260 140 africanlifestylehub@gmail.com
ANTA
0703 111 246 antavm@gsmgroup.africa
Baby Shop 0740561607 babyshopvm@gsmgroup.africa
Bata 0723 539 608 bata.village@bata.com
Blume Boutique 0722 710154 annmaina573@gmail.com
Bottego Women 0722 340 523 bottegozoro@gmail.com
Bottego Zoro 0722 340 523 bottegozoro@gmail.com
Canali at Rodeo Drive 0721 256 777 mtm@italianmenswear.co.ke
City Walk 0731 006 192 vmkt@citywalk.co.ke
Clarks 0768 792 022/ 0722 845 826 fathi.basheihk@alphados.com
Credible Jewels 0724 564 717 crediblejewels@gmail.com
Elias Jewellers 0722 412 107 info@eliasjewellers.com
Ella Anatomic 0700 915 000 contact@ella.co.ke
Etam 0791999299 villagemarket@etamkenya.com
Erita Jewel 0722 793067 eritajewel@gmail.com
Dazzling Planet 0794 687 875
Fabric Gallery 0720 390 123 info@fabricgallery.co.ke
Hanifa by Hanifa 0790 562 392 athanifabyhanifa@gmail.com
Ikwetta 0790 482 838 shop@ikwetta.com varsheeni@ikwetta.com
Invu 0739 657 157 sales@optisource.co.ke
J&J 0115 528 858 shop@judithandjames.com
JIT Gems 0722 964 506 jit.gems@gmail.com
Kikoy 0722 295 731 info@kikoy.com
KSHMR by Kuoni 0734 699 469 elena@kashmrbykuoni.com
Ladyluck Shapewear 0799 987 349 ladyluckshapewear@gmail.com
Maarkat 0114 446 757
Maasai Treads 0769 438 428 info@maasaitreads.com
Maliti Black 0714 173 608 malitiblackpremium@gmail.com
Max 0799 119 265 maxvm@gsmgroupafrica.com
Mille Collines 0714 301 439 mille.collines.villagemarket@gmail.com
Moksh 0714 241 688 winniesasha88@gmail.com
Moyo 0715 522 133 info@shopmoyo.ni
Nairobi Sports House 0738 205 315 village@nairobisportshouse.com
Oda Omo 0714 235 863 enquiries@odaomo.com One Way 0721 996 091 bronx@one-way.cc
Patrick Mavros 0701 070 295 nairobi@patrickmavros.com
Rose Jewellery 0750 404595 rosejewkenya@gmail.com
RunWay 0768888588 info@runwaykenya.com
Salvatore Di Francisca ap@slavatoredifrancisca.com +254 723 978 786
Sandstorm 0721 208 403 salessupport@sandstormkenya.com
Sensations
0798 192 924 marketing@salute.co.ke emily@salute.co.ke
Skechers
0794 683 536 sketchers.vm@dos.co.ke
Springfield
0757 413 314
Style by Nobri 0702630650 info@nobrihome.co
Trevor Collection 0746 619 232 / 0720 202 259 rosegathoni@yahoo.com
Trevor Mens Wear
0113 158 771
Vivo Activewear 0746 619 337 vivo.village@activewear.com
Women Secret 0757 413 314 info@alliedtrading-ea.com
Woolworths
0719 615 136 storeadministratorvillagemarket2 @woolworths.co.za
Zanta Adeyde
0726855825 info@zantaadeyde.com
Zia Africa
0759 44 67 14 suzzanne@ziaafrica.com
Zinj Design
0799 202 020 enquiries@zinjdesign.com
ATMs
DTB ATM
Equity Bank ATM
I&M Bank ATM
KCB ATM
NCBA ATM
Prime Bank ATM
SBM Bank ATM
Stanbic ATM
Standard Chartered Bank ATM
BANKS
ABSA Bank
0723 786 629 / 0717 444 529 florence.kithinji@absa.africa
Diamond Trust Bank
0111 189 750 jkithinji@dtbafrica.com bkerre@dtbafrica.com
Equity Bank
0763 068 162 samuel.muiga@equitybank.co.ke
I&M Bank
0719 088 025 custservice.villagemarket@imbank.co.ke
KCB Bank
020 7122 003 refailmgr-vmarket@kcbgroup.com
NCBA Bank
0720 223 684 jeremiah.kamau@ncbagroup.com
Prime Bank
011940941 villagemarket@primebank.co.ke
SBM Bank
0703 074 590 village market@sbmbank.co.ke
Mpesa Shop
0710 888 888 village@techhouse.co.ke
Standard Chartered Bank
0722 310 401 / 0740 020 857 maureenmwamisi.mwashigadi@sc.com madeline.mugane@sc.com
Sunny Forex Bureau 0718 040 847 sunnyforexbureau@yahoo.com
VFS International (K) Ltd 0721 372 967
FOOD & RESTAURANTS
Artcaffe 0712 143 839 village@artcaffe.co.ke
Aftaeats 0797 444 018 Kukukitchen22@gmail.com
BBrood
0799 871 819 / 0799 871 818 villagemarket@bbrood.com
Brown's Food Co.
0724 925 754 villagemarket@brownsfoodco.com
Bubble and Twist
0719 282 253 bubbleandtwistllp@yahoo.com
CJ's 0796 000 090 / 0799 000 090 cjs.vm@cjs.co.ke
Coldstone 0748 512 587 coldstonecreamery.co.ke
East 0700 248 780
eaststreete18@gmail.com
Falafel House 0708 102 111 falafelhouseke@gmail.com
Galitos 0700 114 844 / 0796 156 403 villagemarket@simbisakenya.co.ke
Gin Joint info@ginjoint.co.ke
Golden Stool 0714 118 112 goldenstoolkitchen@gmail.com
Heathers Kitchen
0113650927 heatherskitchen7@gmail.com
Han-Ji's Corner 0723 997 631 jianpinglei037@gmail.com
Harvest Restaurant
0732 186 215
harvest@trademark.hotel.com
Hero 0732 186 666 bookings@hero-kenya.com
Jiko – Tribe Hotel 0732 186 000 jiko@tribehotel-kenya.com
Karel T-Lounge 0746 619 462 info@karel.co.ke
Keventers 0726 254 254 info@keventers.co.ke
KFC 0702 960 834 kfcvillage@kfeah.com
Khan’s Pakistani Kitchen 0798 312 600 khans@andofood.co
Khazana Restaurant 0727 329 937 sonalbobby@yahoo.com
Kuku Kitchen 0797444018 Kukukitchen22@gmail.com
La Casa Di Nico 0796 857 990 / 0207 126 600 accounts@lacasadinicoristorante.com
Mi Lola Tapas Winebar 0792760140 milolaafrica@gmail.com
Non Solo Gelato 0794 871 992 info@nonsologelato.co.ke
Orchid
0791 340 557 majidjerdi@yahoo.com
Oysters & More 0717 587 587 oystersandmore21@gmail.com
Pasta Republic 0730 886 000
Pizza Hut 0723 502 007 village@liberty-eagle.com
Pocha 254 0711893141/0112796491 pochaeastafrica@gmail.com
Pomodoro 0715 277 522 pomodoroservice@gmail.com
Prime Cuts – Butchery 0708 555 444 butchery@primecuts.co.ke
Prime Cuts – Deli 0708 555 444
Rocomamas 0743 162 600 lafritopia@gmail.com
Roros 0703 952 509 info@roros.co.ke
Sina Shaka by Bila Shaka 0774 888 888 hello@bilashaka.ke
Sofra 0790 579 997 darlyn@mbaya.co.ke
Spring Valley Coffee 0707 709 709 coffee@springvalleycoffee.com
Sweet Street 0702899899 info@sweetstreet.co.ke
Thai Village 0712 848 770 sonalbobby@yahoo.com
The Chocolate Bar 0724 220 045 info@absolutechocolate.co.ke
The Local Grill
0757 130 061 reservations@thelocalgrill.co.ke
The Spring Noshery 0795 816 427 hello@thespring.co.ke
Village Market Cellar 0729 221 100 enquiries@villagemarketcellar.co.ket
Zeytoon 0782 370 808 / 0757 130 041 bargezeytoon@gmail.com
Zucchini 0762 791 687 info@zucchini.co.ke
Tiramisu Bakery 0748 027 315 info@tiramisubakery.co.ke
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Balance 0748 040 748 hello@balance.ke
Blossom Aesthetics Ltd 0715 176 077 blossomaesthetics2017@gmail.com
Dream Nails 0728 610 475 dreamnails@swiftkenya.com
Elixir Health 0735 174 687 elixirhealthkenya@gmail.com
Garnet Pharmacy 0750 191 111 / 0700 191 111 Info@garnetpharmacy.com
Goodlife Pharmacy 0798 190 601 villagemarket@goodlife.africa.com
Grassroots Salon 020 7122 084 choundryjoyce@gmail.com
Green Glaze Beauty 0727 321 105 hello@greenglazebeauty.com
Haute Perfumerie 0705 226 624 delornemalia@gmail.com
Healthy U 0709 694 233 villagemarket@healthy-u2000.com
Jaff's Optical 0720416242 jaffsvillage@gmail.com
Lintons Beauty World 0716 825 042 josephine.abok@lintonsbeauty.com
M.A.C 0704 036 072 mac.vm@lintonsbeauty.com
M.P. Shah Hospital Village Medical Centre 0111 000 600 info@mpshahhospital.org
Natural Lamu 0740 616 454 natural.lamu@gmail.com
Optica Limited 0742969508 village@optica.africa
Quote Beauty +254 112715596 Info@quotebeauty.studio
The Body Shop 0741 744 956 info@maskretailers.com
Kaya Spa 0732 186 444 kaya@tribehotel-kenya.com
Salon Malibu
0733 624 552 / 0725 504 190
Salon Natalie 0717 543 416
Village Dental Clinic
0733 835 081 / 0722 154 903 / 020 7122 460 / 020 7124 025 villagedental2015@gmail.com
Yves Rocher 0702 343 434 villagemarket@yrkenya.com
HOME AND INTERIORS
Afrika Handmade 0717 488 565 hello@afrikahandmade.com
Aryana Carpet 0707 652 545 amir-p-hashemi@yahoo.com
Handcraft Centre 0722 937 327 handcraftcentre@yahoo.com
Hi-Kitchen 0797 547 720 receipt@hikitchen.co.ke
Home and Beyond 0780 246 858 village@homeandbeyond.co.ke
Kashco Interiors 0113154576/ 011496407
Kashmir Arts 0732 402 647 kashmirarts@yahoo.com
Nobri Homes 0702 630 650 info@nobrihome.com
Nice Homes 0721857024/0719655366 3241126169@qq.com
Persian Bazaar 0733 447 152 / 0751 935 544 mparsa2002@gmail.com
Pinkopallino Gallery 0722733658/0721951278 pinkopallino.kenya@gmail.com
Rampel Designs 0705 811 619 marcrampeldesigns@gmail.com
Rossetti Casalinghi 0794 518 322 operations@casabella.co.ke
Rus Interiors 0706 701 858 mail@dharamshi.com
Infertility as defined by the World Health Organization WHO) is a disease characterised by the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse without use of contraception in women below 35 years of age; and after six months of regular intercourse without use of contraception in women 35 years and older.
Infertility can be primary or secondary. Primary infertility is when a pregnancy has never been achieved by a person, and secondary infertility is when at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.
The common causes of infertility can be divided into the following:
Fallopian tube blockage caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), endometriosis, complications of unsafe termination of pregnancy, post delivery infection or scarring following surgery in the lower abdomen.
Dysfunction of the uterus due to developmental irregularities like septate uterus, scarring after procedures on the uterus, adenomyosis or a fibroid in the cavity.
Dysfunction of the ovaries such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and premature ovarian dysfunction.
Hormonal imbalances like thyroid disease or any hormonal disorder that affects signals from the brain to ensure the ovaries and the uterus function normally.
What lifestyle changes can women make to increase their chances of conceiving?
Lifestyle changes like cessation of smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol intake play a critical role.
Dieting and exercise to help with weight reduction have also been demonstrated by research to be beneficial especially in those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
What are the most effective fertility treatments available for women who are struggling to conceive?
The treatment options are tailored to the cause or causes of the infertility (including treatment of the
male partner) and vary from patient to patient. A visit to the gynaecologist is advisable to help map out a treatment plan.
In general, treatment options include hormonal treatment for those with ovarian factors or other hormonal dysfunctions, surgery for those with uterine causes to restore the cavity of the uterus and assisted reproductive techniques like intra uterine insemination(IUI) and in vitro fertilization(IVF) especially for those with fallopian tube blockage or sperm disorders in the male partner.
How can women overcome the emotional stress and anxiety associated with infertility?
This is an important factor in fertility treatment that is often overlooked. An infertility consultation should of essence include a review of the psychosocial effects of this disease. Counseling and psychological support should be given to all presenting with this disease.
What role do genetics play in infertility, and how can this be addressed?
Some genetic conditions like Turner’s syndrome contribute to infertility. However, they are not common and require genetic testing following clinical suspicion.
Some couples based on their history and following investigations for the common causes are recommended to undertake genetic tests. Based on these results, advice is given by a geneticist as to the available treatment option. The options often include sperm or egg donation for the affected partner.
What should women expect during fertility testing and treatment, and what are the costs involved?
Fertility testing and treatment requires couples to be properly guided and counseled as some interventions are invasive and uncomfortable or painful. They can be emotionally draining and time consuming as well.
Blood tests are undertaken to evaluate hormonal conditions that directly or indirectly affect ovulation like reduced ovarian capacity.
An ultrasound scan (often vaginal) is also
carried out to assess the uterus and to detect any disease distorting the normal contour of the inner lining of the uterus. In addition, the scan assesses the ovaries to detect disorders of the ovary. Vaginal scans are also used to monitor growth of the egg(s) in the ovary during treatment.
Assessment of the fallopian tubes is often done by a contrast x-ray (HSG) or through a keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) when performed for other fertility affecting conditions like endometriosis. Occasionally, a look into the cavity of the uterus (hysteroscopy) is performed prior to assisted reproductive techniques like IUI and IVF.
The costs of testing and treatment vary from centre to centre depending on the treatment protocols, but it is imperative for the patient to have a clear understanding on the available options, their intended benefits and limitations as well as available alternatives.
The success rate varies with treatment modality and from patient to patient. Overall from literature, three to five out of ten women who undergo IVF go home with a live baby (live birth rate).
Factors that influence the success of IVF include the woman’s age, body mass index (BMI), treatment protocol used, duration of infertility years, infertility factors, the number of acquired eggs, and number and quality of transferrable embryos. The most significant factor is the woman’s age. Advancement in technology has seen the development of software that can predict success rate of an IVF cycle based on these factors.
By Dr Charles Muriuki
