(30 Jun 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nyamira, Kenya – 28 May 2025
1. Various of Emily Kerubo, hairdresser, braiding hair using banana fiber hair braids
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya – 24 June 2025
2. Various of bananas on sale in a market
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nyamira, Kenya – 28 May 2025
3. Various of banana fibre being extracted from leaves
4. Close up of banana fibre being sun dried
5. Various of Jerusha Kerubo, banana farmer in her farm gardening
6. Various of bananas stem waste
7. Various of Kerubo, farming
8. SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) Jerusha Kerubo, banana farmer:
"We used to discard the banana stem. Once we take the banana fruit, we cut the stem into smaller pieces and leave it in the farm or feed it to cows. But then we found out that 90% of a banana plant can be used."
9. Various of Wefahson Banana Farmers Cooperative farmers processing banana fiber hair braids and extension
10. Various of banana fibre hair braids and extension being steamed
11. Various of Askah Nyakwara, co-founder Wefahson Banana Farmers Cooperative arranging Banana fiber hair braids and extension
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Askah Nyakwara, co-founder Wefahson Banana Farmers Cooperative:
"Initially, the banana, once we have cut down the banana, the stems were to remain with the farmer. After all the research that we have done, we got that 90% of the banana is waste. What we consume is only 10%. And now this 90% we have diversified to resource, not even a waste. Now we have many, many products from it. First product is banana fibre. After getting the banana fibre, we make braids."
13. Various of Wefahson Banana Farmers Cooperative Society farmers processing banana fiber hair braids and extension
14. Various of banana fibre hair braids and extensions being weighed
15. Various of banana fibre hair braids and extension
16. Various of Emily Kerubo, hairdresser braiding hair using banana fibre hair braids
17. SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) Emily Kerubo, hairdresser:
"My clients say they don’t feel itchy after using the banana fibre hair braids. This braid doesn’t tangle when braiding and it’s easy to use."
18. Various of Emily Kerubo, hairdresser braiding hair using banana fibre hair braids
19. SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) Edna Musaro, banana fibre hair braids client:
"This is my third time using the banana fibre braid. I have noticed the synthetic hair loosens quickly, but this lasts long without loosening. That’s why I have loved this braid, I’m actually using it right now."
20. Various of banana fibre hair braids and extensions
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya – 3 May 2025
21. Various of Azarius Karanja, climate leader at Niko Green
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Azarius Karanja, climate leader at Niko Green:
"These fibres are preferable to synthetic hair pieces, mostly because synthetic hair pieces are single use, and then upon disposal they tend to release noxious chemicals into the environment. So you have dioxins and furans being released into the environment when these fibres are burnt. And also because of the fine nature of these fibres, once they enter aquatic ecosystems, they tend to pose a challenge to aquatic creatures such as fish."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya – 19 June 2025
23. Various of a hairdresser using synthetic hair to braid
24. Various of synthetic hair waste in a salon
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya – 3 June 2025
25. Various synthetic hair waste in an alley between salons
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya – 19 June 2025
26. Various of discarded synthetic hair waste amongst other waste
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