A Leader Rooted in Purpose: The story of NaomiJemosop Kipruto

There are some people whose presence changes the rhythm of a room—not because they try to, but because who they are naturally carries weight. At AiTeC in Embu, Kenya, one of those people is Naomi Jemosop Kipruto, who comes from Mogotio in Baringo County.

What follows is her journey—told through her own words, shaped by her experiences, and powered by the path she has carved for herself to become a leader at AiTeC.

Pictured right Nermine and Naoimi.

Naomi’s interest in agriculture wasn’t a sudden spark—it was something she carried with her from childhood. She was always fascinated by agriculture, not only because it produces food and ensures survival, but because it can become a livelihood. A lifeline. A system. A science.

As she puts it, this curiosity shaped her path.

After completing her KCSE at Kapropita Girls High School in 2018, she joined Chuka University to study Agricultural Education and Extension. There, her curiosity deepened into skill. She took on two attachments (degrees)—one as a teacher, another as an extension officer—and these experiences built the foundation she still stands on today: education, practical knowledge, and service to farmers.

In 2022, she began her teaching practice at Kithare Secondary School in Meru, guiding students through Biology and Agriculture. She taught for three months—long enough to know she enjoyed shaping young minds, but also that she wanted a broader, more hands-on field of impact.

The following year, she joined Uhoreru Farm in Nanyuki, a commercial herb farm exporting to global markets. Here, Naomi worked with both her hands and her mind—sowing, transplanting, learning crop protection, grading herbs, packaging them, and even handling data entry.

It was during this season of growth that she applied for an internship at Aitec Farm in Embu—a moment that nearly didn’t happen!

That week, the entire country felt slowed down by matatu strikes. Transport was a challenge, and Naomi didn’t have the fare to travel. The interview felt just out of reach and that it could never be.

But her sister wouldn’t let that happen, and reminded her saying:

“Go. This could be your opportunity.”

With a borrowed fare and determination, Naomi made the trip. She arrived at 2:30 PM for a 9:00 AM interview, half expecting the door to be closed.

But the interviewers welcomed her in. She sat down, did her best, and later received the news:

She was selected.

(A moment she still laughs about today.)

Pictured above Naoimi explaining Agricultural Clusters and the AiTeC interns behind her.

Starting in July 2023, Naomi rotated through nearly every major department at Aitec:

● Crop protection

● Farm management

● Irrigation & fertigation

● Data entry

● Nursery management

● Marketing

She discovered that marketing and management were her favorites—roles that required communication, decision-making, and confidence. She unearthed new strengths, and Aitec uncovered a rising leader.

While interning, she completed her university studies, graduating in November 2023 with a Second Class Upper Division.

Soon after, she was offered a teaching role at Don Bosco Secondary School in Embu, beginning in February 2024. Under her guidance, Agriculture became the top-performing subject that year, earning a mean score of 11 points. It was a milestone that affirmed her ability to elevate not just crops, but people.

Now, in 2025, Naomi has returned to Aitec—not as a student or intern, but as a Network Manager overseeing the Agricluster Program, part of CultivAid’s Agricultural Helix.

This role isn’t just a job. It is a platform to uplift farmers and show that agriculture is more than food—it is a livelihood.

Understanding the Agricluster Program at AiTeC:Where Farmers Grow Together

Agricluster brings farmers together into organized groups, empowering them with skills, technologies, and direct access to buyers. It’s a community-based system designed to strengthen every link in the agricultural value chain.

1. Strengthening Farmer Productivity

● Agricluster has established four model farms—practical classrooms where farmers see, touch, and learn modern agricultural technologies:

○ Drip irrigation

○ Crop protection using pheromone and sticky traps

○ Plastic mulch technology

● Every two weeks, farmers gather for training on land preparation, crop nutrition, pest management, and overall crop care. They receive high-quality seedlings from Aitec Nursery and ongoing agronomic guidance, helping them put every lesson into practice.

The goal is simple:teach, support, and empower farmers to produce higher yields and better-quality crops.

2. Connecting Farmers to Markets

● Once farmers master production, Agricluster focuses on market access.

● Right now, the team is running a pilot with Evergreen Sourcing, identifying farmers who can consistently supply:

○ 600 kg of cabbage per week

○ 3,000 kg of capsicum per week

● Farmers who meet the standards enter structured agreements that ensure stability and fair earnings. And if the pilot succeeds, it will open doors for even more farmers across the clusters.

It’s a model built on collaboration, growth, and shared success and Naoimi is leading the way.

From Mogotio to Embu, from curious student to educator, from intern to Network Manager—Naomi’s journey is stitched together with resilience, persistence, and a deep belief in agriculture’s power to transform lives.

Through Agricluster, she sees daily how knowledge, organization, and opportunity can change the future for smallholder farmers. And she continues to lead with the same authenticity and strength that have carried her this far.

Her story is still unfolding—but one thing is certain:

Naomi Jemosop Kipruto is building a future where farmers learn together, grow together, and rise together—and we are honored to have her at AiTeC and Water 4 Mercy.

She embodies the hope, purpose, and vision this organization strives for.