How former househelp built an international herbs brand

Taste Kenya Exporters Founder Esther Ngina preparing Rosemary seedlings at her herbs farm in Kitengela, Kajiado County on May 2, 2025.

Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group

When international buyers at trade fairs asked why Kenya wasn’t exporting herbs, Esther Ngina took notice. That question planted a seed that would grow into Taste Kenya Exporters, her herb farming and export business now supplying global markets.

Today, Esther is the founder and CEO of Taste Kenya Exporters, but her journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward. Before she was boarding planes to represent her company abroad, she was working as a maid to fund her education.

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