28-year-old hopes to become first female tractor driver in her community
Brenda Chebet while training how to operate a tractor.
In Tinet, Brenda Chebet is a dedicated potato farmer who has never met a female tractor operator, but despite the prevailing norm of male dominance in the sector, she is determined to break the tradition.
Her drive is not only to empower girls to embrace farm mechanisation, but also to pioneer the role of women in the sector across Nakuru County.
Reflecting on her journey, Chebet acknowledges that she has to hire male operators to work her land, a practice she is determined to challenge.
She draws inspiration from observing women in Western countries embracing farm mechanisation as a viable career path, a stark contrast to the limited opportunities for women in the country.
Determined to rewrite the narrative, Chebet has embarked on a journey of personal and professional growth, becoming a leader of change in her community by enrolling in training to learn how to drive a tractor.
Chebet realises that she has a huge task ahead of her to ensure she does not fail, as she was the only woman in the training.
Armed with new skills and unwavering determination, she envisions a future where gender is no longer a barrier to operating farm machinery.
Brenda Chebet seeks to be the first woman operating a tractor in her community.
"Through the training I've received, I will be able to secure employment opportunities in my community, especially during the crucial land preparation seasons, and thus support my family's livelihood," she affirms.
At 28 years old, Chebet's ambition knows no bounds as she dreams of developing her skills to master more sophisticated agricultural machinery, determined in her mission to shatter glass ceilings and prove that women are capable of achieving equality with, and even surpassing, their male counterparts.