Wairimu Mwaura

Wairimu Mwaura is the Co-Founder of Leona Foundation, a Kenya-based non-profit dedicated to advancing community-driven justice. Inspired by her lived experiences of gender inequality, environmental degradation, and mental health challenges, she leads an integrated approach to development that combines climate action, agroecology-based enterprises, gender justice, and mental wellness. Through this model, the foundation addresses interconnected social and environmental issues while creating sustainable livelihoods and empowering communities to drive their own transformation.

In the past year, Leona Foundation has reached over 830 community members — 60% of them women and youth — and adopted 447 hectares of degraded protected forest in Kenya's Greater Rift Valley. The organization has restored 161 hectares so far, with a target of an additional 134 hectares by 2026, while also influencing county and national policies to amplify community voices. Wairimu's work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change is reflected in empowered individuals and thriving ecosystems — communities where people feel seen, valued, and equipped to build a more just and sustainable future.