Along the sparkling shores of Tumbe Beach in Msambweni sub-county, Ashura Shee, 51, wades into the ocean every morning with purpose and pride. Shee is one of more than 800 women in Kwale County whose lives are being transformed by seaweed farming, and she’s not turning back.

For her, seaweed is more than just a crop; it’s a gateway to financial freedom, a steady income, a sense of independence and a renewed connection to the ocean.

“No one can talk me out of this. Seaweed is my everything, and it has changed my life,” she said with a smile.

Before she discovered seaweed farming, she, like many women in the coastal community, struggled to make ends meet.

Shee was just a housewife with nothing of her own to feel proud of.

She makes around Ksh10,000 monthly from seaweed farming. The income not only supports her family but also contributes to her personal growth and independence.

“Before, I couldn’t afford to buy a single thing. Even getting food was a struggle, but now I buy and eat what I want,” she says, attributing seaweed farming with enabling her to support her children’s education and handle minor family expenses, and easing the financial burden on her husband.

Next to Shee is Mwatime Njama, another woman reaping the benefits of the ocean through seaweed farming.  

Like many others, the venture has completely changed Njama’s life and through seaweed farming, she has been able to build a house for her family. Njama also pays school fees for her children and even started small businesses to diversify her income.

Community mentor

The additional income has given her family a better standard of living and reduced their dependence on the husband.

“I never imagined I would one day be a business owner, but seaweed gave me a chance to dream bigger,” Njama says.

Njama is now an advocate for seaweed farming in her community. She regularly mentors younger women and encourages them to take advantage of the ocean’s natural resources in a sustainable way.

“We shouldn’t wait for our husbands to provide everything when the ocean offers us so many opportunities to fight poverty,” she argues.

Fatuma Chidagaya is also part of a growing movement of coastal women who are transforming their lives through the blue economy.  She says that through seaweed farming, she has also found a purpose in life.

The seaweed farming project has empowered her and completely transformed her life, both economically and socially. She reveals that in a good year, they harvest up to six times, with each harvest earning them thousands of shillings, enough to support their families.  

The 40-year-old farmer describes seaweed farming as unmatched compared to other forms of agriculture.

“You can’t compare seaweed with any other type of farming. It’s easy to manage, highly productive, and comes with very few challenges,” she says, adding that seaweed requires little land, no fertiliser and thrives in shallow waters.

The women have been able to achieve their success through the support of various organisations, one of the key partners being Plan International.  

According to the Seaweed Project Coordinator at Plan International, Alfred Rono, their goal is to ensure that farmers are well-equipped, informed, and able to maximise the benefits of seaweed farming.

“We normally prioritise the safety of the farmers and give them the necessary assistance to support this type of farming,” he says.

The support includes training on best practices, provision of farming gear, and support in connecting farmers to reliable buyers.

Plan International also offers continuous mentorship and technical guidance to ensure the sustainability of the project.

In order to integrate modern farming techniques and promote value-added products such as seaweed-based cosmetics and snacks, the organisation is also helping farmers move beyond raw production to profitable entrepreneurship.

The project, Rono explains, has not only created income-generating opportunities for women but has also strengthened their role in decision-making within their communities.

According to Rono, women were previously unable to fully benefit from ocean-based opportunities because they lacked the fishing skills needed to compete with men in traditional fishing activities.

Before, most women were left out because deep-sea fishing requires training, equipment and physical strength. However, with the introduction of seaweed farming, women have found a more inclusive and accessible alternative.

“Seaweed farming has opened the door for women to earn a living from the ocean without needing to fish. They now enjoy three times the benefits of income, independence, and increased confidence,” he says, noting that the demand for seaweed, both locally and internationally, continues to grow, offering farmers a valuable opportunity.

However, more support is needed to unlock the full potential of the industry.

“The market is there, and the returns are good but we need stronger policies, better infrastructure, and sustained investment to support farmers and scale up seaweed farming effectively,” he says, calling on the government and other stakeholders to recognise seaweed as a key part of the blue economy and create an enabling environment that encourages innovation, processing, and export.