Tehuti Ra Wahinya, WeGrow, Kenya
Born on a roadside to a teenage mother, this Kenyan herbalist healer infuses ancient, native plant wisdom into a contemporary herbal products company serving his community and beyond
Welcome back to RainMakers & ChangeMakers! To learn more about what to expect from this publication going forward, check out my Bringing Back the Rain for a Change post. Want to know what started it all? Read more about the 61-day storytelling and portrait project this summer in this first post.
This month, I’m returning with a feature article on another ChangeMaker: Tehuti Ra Wahinya of
. I plan to bring more interviews like these to you while continuing to offer updates and in-depth articles returning to the work of the original 30 ChangeMaker organizations.Meet Tehuti Ra Wahinya, Herbalist Healer
Tehuti Ra Wahinya, is an accomplished Kenyan organic farmer, herbalist, health and wellness professional, and creative living in Mombasa (along the coast of Kenya, by the Indian Ocean).
At 40 years old, Tehuti is the proprietor of WeGrow -
on Substack - an organic herbal products company, run from his home, providing oils, teas, and other healing products to support the health and wellness of community members and clients.I became acquainted with Tehuti through his work as a volunteer at the Kwetu Regenerative Hub, a syntropic agroforestry initiative started by
Van Reenen and Esther Njeri in Kitui County, Kenya (who I wrote about here and here respectively).He also toured this summer in Kenya as an advisor to Antoinette
, Pato Banton and others on their International “Perma-cultural Tour” visiting several of the ChangeMakers featured on this publication.
Antoinette spoke so highly of Tehuti, I couldn’t wait to interview him.
“The way he treated the women that we were interviewing with such love, respect, and compassion to hear what their needs were really resonated with us. That was the true spirit of Ubuntu. He went above and beyond to want to go the second mile of loving service so he could address their needs and he didn’t ask for funds to help them either. Not many are willing to help someone else without getting paid for it. That’s why he’s such a great example for Ubuntu International. We need people with integrity and who are willing to walk the talk.” - Antoinette
of International
I was born on the side of the road.
We all have an origin story. This is where Tehuti’s story really begins.
"I was born on the side of the road. I stayed there for three days before I was taken to the hospital. They treated me. After two weeks, my mother left me. She didn't come back until I was in grade 5."
Tehuti was raised by his grandparents; but it was far from a loving and supportive environment.
“I could have opted to be a street child. I came from a very abusive family. They did not accommodate me as the son of their daughter, who became pregnant with me at the age of 16. I realized though that they were also suffering from abuse themselves and were passing that abuse on to others."
When Tehuti's mother did return she had other children in tow. She had married and gotten divorced. Years passed and the relationship never improved. She passed away in 2005. "We never had a good relationship" says Tehuti. "She was very stressed and I was an unwanted pregnancy."
As is often the case with children who grow up under harsh circumstances, Tehuti was thrust into survival mode, caring for himself from an early age.
In fact, when I asked him at the end of our interview who he wanted to name as his personal ChangeMaker, he couldn't think of anyone. He hesitated for a few moments, and then said… “Myself. I am my own ChangeMaker.”
Myself. I am my own ChangeMaker - Tehuti Ra Wahinya
Despite the fact that he didn't have parents or suitable guardians around to care for him, Tehuti reflected that his life wasn’t all hardship and heart ache.
"I was able to acquire positivity and keep negativity away. I learned to experience the love from the community. I used to go to Catholic Church before I turned to spiritualism. The Church helped me so much with studies and exposure to life."
He would leave school for stretches of time to do odd jobs so he could find clothes and food. Money for school fees and books were not available.
"I decided to leave when I was 15. I ran away to the nearest town. I surivived on my own, sleeping outside with the watchmen. During the day, I got jobs as a waiter. I never completed school."
Personal Transformation
When he was in his early 20's (between 2006 and 2008), he realized he had another calling, a higher purpose in life.
“I wanted to give back what I have inside me to the community. But first I needed to search for what I have, what has the universe equipped me with so I can serve other people.”
He realized his skills were as an artist, mosaics, painting, sculpture but also a farmer. But, he had lost touch with his farming roots. He needed to go back but also realized the need to reinvent the old way of farming for a new age.
"I started farming in class 3 and 4. I would grow tomatoes, sell them and buy books for myself to attend class. I went to other people's farms like fetching water for them; they would give me an avocado, I would sell it."
Tehuti also realized during this time (2008), that his given name was not serving him well. And, that he could in fact give himself his own name.
"I remember a lot of things, including past lives. I started to stand in that power of mind. There is a god of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding named ‘Tehuti.’ And, ‘Wahinya’ means someone with energy."
By taking that name, Tehuti was communicating to himself and others that he is someone who can channel the energy of the universe with wisdom and understanding.
But first I needed to search for what I have, what has the universe equipped me with so I can serve other people. - Tehuti Ra Wahinya
A Healer at Heart
Tehuti realized in his young adulthood that he is an herbalist. He knows the herbs by name; knows their beneficial uses without consulting books. “Those are things that come from inside of me,” he said. He realized that he has a gift to share.
Sickness is a multi-million industry. Noone is getting healed in the hospitals. You can see a lot of the conditions are caused by a ruined immune system that lacks minerals. Hormonal imbalance is prevalent. Our people need healing, liberation and freedom.
Tehuti recently finished a one and a half year program at a school for preserving indigenous trees and medicinal herbs. He applied for it so that he could be certified and have a legal document showing his credentials to be an herbal medicine practitioner. He finished in August 2024.
Planting the Seeds for “WeGrow”
Tehuti owns and operates a business out of his home called WeGrow that has an extensive line of dried herbs, skin care products, and cooking oils. It is more than a business; it is the manifestation of his passion to share with others the powerful healing nature of herbs, particularly with others who suffer.
He started WeGrow after learning he had the capacity to heal himself with plants. Tehuti experienced a lot of health problems as a young man. And with his knowledge of herbs that he accumulated along the way, in 2008, he started healing himself.
I realized in 2013, after healing myself for 5 years that I could help other people. So, in 2013 I informally started advising people, referring them to herbs. If someone said they were ailing, I would share with them my knowledge.
In 2021, Tehuti was employed managing a farm. He shared with them his ideas of healing and wellness. They wanted him to apply his method of farming. He did and with great success. But, he never had a written employment contract. It was just a verbal agreement. When they started to see the results, they took his idea and started to market it.
He decided to part ways with the farm, but soon realized he could do it by himself. He started simply by foraging and harvesting the herbs, drying them and preparing them on his table. He started WeGrow formally in August 2022.
WeGrow - A Social Enterprise
The herb that Tehuti processes and sells are sourced from local women. He taught them how to identify the herbs and forage for them. They dry them and he gives them a percentage of his sales for their work. Packaging for all of his herbs is made from ecofriendly material that is biodegradable.
For instance, the Baobob powder is sourced by women and prepared by them as well. They also collect Moringa leaves, dry them, and grind the herbs. He packages and sells the product.
With WeGrow, Tehuti gives 20% of his profits to the community. Recently, he used the profits to help children buy books, school uniforms and bags.
Dreams for the Future
Tehuti is now 40. He has four children and has adopted two others. Four boys and two girls. He is separated from his wife. He tries to balance his social, family and work life. "I take care of children around me, whether they are mine or not."
“I want to make life more harmonious and easy for everyone. Especially for those who cannot afford a better life. I want to be a more practical person. My vision is to help more people, impact them, encourage their freedom, sustainability, social growth so that we can all achieve goals in life.”
A Creator
Tehuti is incredibly creative whether it's beadwork, necklaces, sculptures, bags or crochet, or art, he is always creating.
As an avid crocheter myself, I asked Tehuti what he likes to make. He makes hats, scarves, bags and gives them to friends. Sometimes he sells his work as well.
As we traded our favorite things to make out of crochet, Tehuti stopped and said, you know, I can do something. What’s that? I asked.
“I can crochet while I walk.”
Tehuti, with everything you have accomplished in life so far, I am not surprised my friend!
If you enjoyed this interview…
Leave a comment, share it with friends, and restack. Give Tehuti and WeGrow some love!
Did you know that residents of Africa are unable to monetize their Substacks? Stripe is unavailable. It’s one reason why I monetized this publication: I leverage this publication for the benefit of others like the organizations I highlighted this summer and Tehuti Ra Wahinya. Should you wish to support Tehuti’s work, you can drop a donation into the RainMaker Fund link below that I manage. Just ensure his name is listed on your donation. All unnamed donations will go into the general RainMaker Fund (read more here).
Next Up? ChangeMaker Roll Call!
My next post will share some of the impacts ChangeMakers have made in their communities since I last wrote about them this summer. Stay tuned!
Until then, be well, stay strong, and love one another!
 | A guest post by
|
Wow I am humbled! What an amazing person. Thank you for sharing his story. I am so inspired by how he has kept going and thriving through so many adversities. I love your watercolour portrait as well!
lovely, thank you both so much