Kazuri, which means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting on making handmade beads.

The factory is located in what used to be part of the Karen Blixen Estate (of the Academy Award winning film "Out of Africa") fame.

Its founder, Lady Susan Wood, started with two Kenyan women and soon discovered that there were many other women in the villages around Nairobi, most of whom were single mothers, who were in great need of regular employment. Driven by the desire to provide such opportunities, Kazuri has grown and today we have a large work force skilled in the making of handmade jewellery.

We have further applied our knowledge of ceramics and the artistic flair that has made our necklaces so attractive, in the design and production of our own unique range of pottery-ware, which reflects the culture and wildlife of Kenya. Each piece, like our beads, is hand made and hand painted in rich colours and our range is extensive from individual collector pieces to dinnerware.

The mission of Kazuri is to provide and sustain employment opportunities for disadvantaged members of Kenyan society.
In order to achieve this we must produce top quality hand-made and hand-painted ceramic jewellery and pottery. This will ensure that we are well equipped to compete in both the international and local market place. The Kazuri workshop in Karen employs over 340 women, mostly single mothers.
It is equipped with a clinic, providing free medical care for the employees and their immediate families. Kazuri also absorbs 80% of medical bills for treatment received outside the factory clinic.
In the developing world of today’s Africa, the greatest contribution we can make is to create employment, especially for the disadvantaged and this remains our guiding philosophy. The result is reflected in the strength of the Kazuri Family and the beauty of our products.

Mark and Regina Newman