OUR STORY
Why does our work matter?
Sex work is criminalised in Kenya, but even then, the system only criminalises the supply chain, never the demand. The women are regularly arrested by the police, which puts them in never-ending debt cycles as they have to borrow money to be released from police custody.
Our formal employment and labour laws are discriminatory to anyone who lacks a basic education diploma and do not seek to bridge the gaps by recognising the informal skills sector.
For women in sex work, the whole system feels rigged against them. Additionally, shame, stigma, and discrimination make reintegration impossible.
No One Should Be Forced into Sex Work
We believe that commercial sex work is not a choice freely made.
Many women are driven to it by poverty, marginalization, and the desperation to support themselves and their families in the face of a lack of viable economic alternatives. In our experience, most are single mothers without a high school education or job skills to enter and thrive in the formal workforce. We’re committed to changing this reality by equipping women with the skills and support needed to pursue dignified, sustainable work
Our Values
Trust
Trust is the foundation of our work.
It is our strongest asset as it creates a safe environment for our women. Many women in commercial sex work have faced deep hurt, abuse, and fear in their past relationships. For us, building connections rooted in love, trust, and respect isn’t just a value; it’s central to how we work, helping each woman feel truly seen, supported, and empowered.
Deep Lasting Impact
We believe in more than us.
We work with small numbers at a time, ensuring that each woman receives adequate support. We believe that, as a society, we all have a collective role to play in helping the most vulnerable in our community, challenging societal norms that leave women and girls vulnerable to exploitation, and ultimately breaking the cycle of sex work.
Courage and Innovation
We lead with courage and innovation
By pioneering pathways for women to transition from sex work, we step into an overlooked space. We believe that it is not God’s intended plan for women and girls to work in this often exploitative and abusive industry. We are committed to finding dignified and alternative work opportunities for women who desire to exit sex work.
Empowerment over Rescue
We choose empowerment over rescue.
We equip our women to stand and thrive on their own, ensuring generational impact & change. We are committed to transitioning women out of sex work by empowering them with the skills and knowledge they need to earn a living and provide their children with a healthy and safe lifestyle beyond our generation.
MEET THE TEAM
Eunice Mathu
Founder
Eunice is the Founder of Rejesha Project Nairobi and the heart behind everything we do. Years ago, while on vacation in Kilifi, Kenya, Eunice witnessed firsthand the struggles and risks that young women were facing in sex work due to economic hardship. That encounter planted a seed she could not ignore and in 2019, Rejesha Project Nairobi was born. Eunice brings over a decade of frontline experience in gender justice and sexual violence advocacy. She spent 11 years studying and working in the UK, where she was actively involved in programs supporting survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. She holds a Master's degree in International Development from the University of East Anglia and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of East London. In 2018, she chose to come home to Nairobi and she has been building ever since. She may be petite, but she punches hard for what she believes in. Eunice leads Rejesha with relentless compassion, quiet courage, and an unshakeable conviction that every woman deserves dignity, freedom, and a future. Her faith in Christ is the foundation of how she shows up for her team, for the women Rejesha serves, and for the vision she carries every single day. When she is not advocating for Nairobi's most overlooked women, you will find Eunice on the beach, a running trail or hiking in the Aberdares. She's also a cat mum to Zozo, who's fierce and gentle all the same time much like her.
Venessa Wambui
Intern
Venessa chose to support Rejesha because of their intentional approach to care and community. After attending several Saturday open- door cafes, she came to see that Rejesha’s work extends beyond providing a meal. Her commitment deepened after her first evening at the open-door cafe. When she shared her experience with friends and family, she was struck by the stigma and misconceptions many people still hold towards the women Rejesha serves. That experience made her realize that meaningful support must extend beyond direct service and also challenge the attitudes that perpetuate exclusion and judgment. She therefore chose to join Rejesha’s team to help foster greater understanding and reduce the stigma surrounding the women and communities Rejesha supports. She holds a Diploma and Bachelor’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Daystar University. She has experience in mental health support, community engagement, research, and working with vulnerable populations. Her background has strengthened her interest in psychosocial support, advocacy, and creating more informed and compassionate communities. Fun fact, she can spend an unreasonable amount of time talking about movies, books, anime, and pretty much anything she finds interesting.When she isn’t at work, she is probably hiking through the Ngong Hills or exploring the Oloolua Nature Trail. If she’s not out in nature, she’s probably somewhere discovering a new cuisine she’s never tried before.
Teresa Irungu
Head of Programs
Teresa is a dedicated Head of Programs with over five years’ experience with Rejesha Project, supporting programmes that promote the wellbeing, resilience, and economic empowerment of female sex workers. Her journey with the organisation began in direct service delivery and has evolved into a Programme Coordinator role, where she provides leadership across programme implementation, staff mentorship, partnerships, grant coordination, participant aftercare, and financial oversight. Her experience includes supporting trauma-centred therapy, facilitating economic empowerment initiatives, strengthening community and institutional partnerships, and ensuring programmes are responsive to the needs and aspirations of participants. She brings a compassionate, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach to her work, grounded in empathy, dignity, and respect. As a people-centred leader, Teresa is passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces where women can heal, build resilience, strengthen their livelihoods, and make informed choices about their futures. She is committed to strengthening teams, building meaningful partnerships, and ensuring that programs are both impactful and sustainable. When she's out of office, Teresa is likely taking a spontaneous road trip or catching up with friends at a lively cultural festival. She can also code switch and speak in multiple accents, such as Nigerian & Ugandan.
Grace Ng'ang'a
Communications Officer
Grace believes that we each have a story to tell, shaped by our unique backgrounds and life experiences. As Rejesha’s Communications Officer, she pieces together what we do, who we serve, and why it matters through newsletters, digital content, and donor communications, celebrating the resilience, courage, and transformation of the women we serve with dignity and respect at the center. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Management from USIU and a background in Community Development. She built her career across customer service, digital marketing, and project management before joining Rejesha. She was drawn to Rejesha by their commitment to restoring hope & dignity for women who have often been overlooked and undeserved. She is impact-driven and hopes to contribute to creating pathways towards sustainable livelihoods for the women Rejesha serves, their families, and future generations. When she’s off the clock, you’ll find her by the beach, taking in the breeze and letting the ocean waves do all the talking. She lives by the rule, music is food for the soul, it'll get you through any season.
Linah Akinyi
Program Assistant
Linah is a lover of people & humanity, an avid football fan, and a die-hard Gunner! She loves art, nature, and learning about different cultures. She has years of experience working with sex workers and grassroots communities. She is exceptional at monitoring, organization, leadership, and public speaking. She strongly believes in change, and it is achievable. Rejesha is not only an organization that is gearing female sex workers towards change, but it’s also strategically helping them to know their value, protect their dignity, identify their potential, and empower them to live a respectable and independent life. When she’s off duty, you’ll find her spending time with her children, watching football, taking a nature walk, or catching up with the people around her.
OUR ADVISORS
Sapna Shah
Board Member
Sapna is an investor and a partner at a venture capital firm based in Nairobi. She cares about bringing social impact and change to our community. She believes that Rejesha does important, difficult, and urgent work that others aren’t willing to do. She enjoys running and has run 2 full marathons in the last 2 years!
Faith Kimiri
Board Member
Faith is an entrepreneur in the wellness and nutrition industry. She's passionate about helping women from all walks of life realise their true potential and purpose. She supports Rejesha after meeting Eunice and seeing her heart and deep desire to show God’s love to women who in many ways had little or no hope; to experiencing the unique way in which Rejesha loves on the women in incredibly practical ways while honoring their dignity and self respect; to the ways Rejesha patiently walks alongside the ladies at their pace to help them find their place in a world that often prefers to rush them or push them into pre-prescribed versions of a ‘better life.’ Fun fact, she used to hate cooking (ironic since she's a nutritionist 😂) but she's now loving it and really enjoys her own food 😋.
Praise Gichuru
Board Member
Praise is an experienced executive administrator, operations management, pastoral care, team development & leadership. She's passionate about advocating for social justice and she believes that we have a responsibility to each other, a responsibility to care and love each other. Rejesha has taught me that honoring the dignity of a person has a transformative impact. It has also empowered her to share the gospel and her love for Jesus in a practical way. One of her favourite quote by Gwendolyn Brooks says “We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.”
Our Volunteers
We are grateful to each of our volunteers. Their dedication, compassion, and support are at the heart of Rejesha Project Nairobi. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission and for making a lasting impact in our community.
Our Partners
