About - MashinaniWORKS

Our History

Since our inception in 2014 as NRT Trading, we have been dedicated to empowering communities in their journey towards economic self-reliance.
Initially established as a subsidiary of the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), NRT Trading was founded as a business accelerator for social and conservation impact enterprises operating in northern Kenya. Over time, it became a key player in driving local economic development and contributing
to the preservation of natural ecosystems.

In 2023, recognising the need to align with the growing aspirations of the communities we serve, NRT Trading rebranded to MashinaniWORKS. This strategic shift was more than just a name change. It represented our renewed commitment to deepening impact, enhancing community ownership, and fostering sustainable economic growth at the grassroots level.

Our name, MashinaniWORKS, emphasises our focus on “mashinani” (grassroots in Swahili) areas in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, where we work to empower historically marginalised youth and women and improve their livelihoods through trade and commerce.

Vishal Shah

CEO

Vishal is responsible for creating and implementing the MashinaniWORKS strategy, aligning a wide array of stakeholders to deliver the MashinaniWORKS mission, and communicating with the donor, community, and government partners.

Ture Boru

Chief Economic Programs Officer

Ture Boru oversees implementation of MashinaniWORKS programs as well as spearhead development and growth of Community Enterprises, Financial Inclusion and Vocational Training (Ujuzi Manyattani) initiatives.

Doreen Mwende

Chief Accountant

Doreen Mwende is a degree holder in Bachelor of Business Management (finance and banking option) and a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K).

Samwel Kiogora

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Samwel is a result-oriented and ethical practitioner trained to provide managerial responsibilities, administrative support, maintenance duties, and information resource management. He is a team player who can interact and work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Levis Kibet

Tourism Officer

Levis Kibet uses his skills to enhance the visibility of northern Kenya tourism products while building the brand ‘The Big North’. He believes in having a strong destination management plan that can build a reliable base for tourism to prosper.

Salma Lekoomet

BeadWORKS Production Manager

Salma is a driven individual with a strong passion for empowering women in her community. Her unwavering commitment to the cause is evident in the work she has put in over the last six years. She has been working closely with women beaders who rely on their craft to earn a living.