Dominic Ming’ate Orina, a 34-year-old teacher and farmer, has made headlines in Kenya after being shortlisted in the Kshs 129 million Global Teacher Award. Orina however is no stranger on the internet, as his innovative approach to agriculture and education has propelled him to widespread recognition. Orina’s journey to this global recognition is rooted in his dedication to transforming lives through a lost art; kitchen gardening.
Orina’s story began in 2017 when he was posted to Kugerwet Primary School in Bomet County by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as part of the government’s delocalization policy.
Originally from Nyamira County, Orina had grown up accustomed to a diverse diet of vegetables, fruits, and white meat. However, upon moving to Bomet, he had a hard time adjusting due to the limited access to fresh vegetables as the region primarily focused on tea growing and dairy farming.
To address this challenge, Orina rented a house at Satiet shopping center and, with his landlord’s permission, he set up a small kitchen garden. He used the limited space to plant collard greens( sukuma wiki), spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, beetroot, and onions, among other vegetables. Within a short time, his thriving garden quickly caught the attention of his neighbors, inspiring them to start their own projects.
Orina continued with the practice until the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 where like many Kenyans, he was confined to his premises. He began sharing photos of his kitchen garden on social media, gaining recognition and admiration from Kenyans and even those in the diaspora.
The overwhelming interest pushed him to create a Facebook page, Sacks and Containers Gardening Tips, where he provided practical advice on kitchen gardening. The page now boasts over 470,000 followers.
At school, Orina inspired his students to revive the formerly famous agricultural 4K clubs (Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya) to practise gradening, and in turn motivating parents to establish kitchen gardens. By selling surplus produce, students not only learned about self-sufficiency but also improved their financial literacy. This initiative significantly boosted community nutrition, with many children proud of their homegrown vegetables.
In 2021 after lockdown was vacated, Orina embraced Kenya’s Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC), which emphasizes practical agricultural skills. He collaborated with Kugerwet Primary School’s headteacher, who allocated a portion of the school’s land to set up a farming project. The teacher and his students embarked on growing vegetables and rearing rabbits.
Beyond agriculture, Orina runs a charitable initiative called Dress Me Up, through which he has provided over 150 students with school uniforms. Through funding from his online supporters and well wishers, he has also managed to supply sanitary towels and learning materials to underprivileged students. This has greatly boosted their confidence and he has seen improved attendance.
“When heavens open, God showers his blessings! Good news to 21 girls from humble backgrounds to receive new uniforms soon! Education is for all!” Orina once shared in a Facebook post.
Through these efforts, Orina has garnered recognition from the Ministry of Education and UNESCO, for his creative teaching methods and community service. He was named the best innovative teacher in CBC within the Cheptalal zone and won multiple awards from the Optiven Foundation in 2021.
The instructor is now the third Kenyan to reach the top 50 of the Global Teacher Prize since its inception in 2015. He is looking at a $1 million (Sh129 million) prize, given to a teacher who has made an exceptional contribution to the profession.
“Overwhelmed and honored to let you know that I have been shortlisted to the top 50 of the 9th Global Teacher Prize! This wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of my amazing people, like you. Keep me in your prayers to carry the trophy home by the end of the competition,” Orina posted on Facebook upon receiving news of his shortlisting on January 19.
“My students, parents, teachers, and the entire community let us share this blessing. Improving people’s lives through education is our priority.”
If he wins, Orina will join Peter Tabichi, who made history in 2019 as the first Kenyan to win the award. He however is not fazed by the accolade, maintaining that his work’s impact brings him more fulfillment serving as an inspiration for his students and community.
