From Floodplains to BAKE Awards

Looking back on the year I’ve had, I can say my upbringing was quietly forging me for this Award.

I was born and raised in Budalangi, Western Kenya, along the banks of River Nzoia, a flood-prone area where the mighty river swells each rainy season, swallowing rice fields whole and  homes engulfed by floodwaters . The waters brought chaos but also life, teaching me early that nature’s beauty is fierce, unpredictable, and worth fighting for. My connection with nature began when I was 5 years old. Every Saturday, my dad, a peasant farmer in the local rice scheme, would take me to the fields. 

He used to assign me the responsibility of chasing away birds so that they don’t eat our rice, not an easy task for a little girl.  When I come to think of it, I equally enjoyed and loathed the job, it gave me a sense of purpose but also tested my patience, stamina, and resilience.

I was mesmerized by the songs of birds and the sight of them flying gracefully, displaying their beautiful colours. At times, I would get so lost in watching them that I would forget everything else, and more often than not, the birds would outsmart me.

I guess that’s one of the reasons I fell in love with nature. It is full of wonder. But over time, I began to understand that my  love for nature ran far deeper, shaped not only by admiration, but also by lived experiences of coexistence, resilience, and change. 

Years later, that love evolved into storytelling. With the rise of social media platforms such as Facebook, what began as simple conversations about nature and sharing my experiences and perspectives gradually grew into a fully-fledged website and multi-platform storytelling platform by 2021.

In 2023, we faced a devastating data breach that erased much of our content and momentum. But last year, we rebuilt stronger , more resilient, more intentional, and more committed than ever to telling stories that inspire connection, conservation, and change.

Winning the BAKE Awards 2025 as  Environment Creator of the Year was a deeply emotional and defining moment for me, as I began to question my place in impactful storytelling in a digital era . It was more than an award; it was recognition of years of persistence, passion, learning, rebuilding, and believing in the power of environmental storytelling to inspire action and shift conversations around  environment literacy and climate justice.

The recognition affirmed that our stories matter. It opened doors for collaborations, amplified our voice within Kenya’s environmental space, and reminded me that digital storytelling can become a powerful tool for change.

Recently, I was offered an opportunity that feels like a natural next step in my journey , one that allows me to expand my impact, tell even deeper environmental stories, and continue using my voice to inspire action for people and the planet.

That’s why we are glad  to announce that Beyond The Trails Kenya has once again been nominated for the BAKE Awards 2026 ,Environment Creator of the Year!. A back-to-back WIN would not only celebrate our journey, but also shine a light on environmental storytellers, especially women leading conversations on conservation, climate justice, biodiversity, and impactful digital storytelling.

 Public voting for the 10th Annual BAKE Awards is NOW OPEN from May 6 to June 4!

Your vote will help us continue telling stories that protect Kenya’s ecosystems, amplify community voices, and inspire change.

Explore our work: https://beyondthetrailskenya.co.ke/blog/
Vote here: https://bakeawards.co.ke/vote

Thank you!

#BAKEAwards2026 #EnvironmentCreator  #BeyondTheTrailsKenya