Meet Alice Emmetto, Resourceful Landscaper From Eldama-Ravine
The 57-year-old Turkana woman stands out as a true trailblazer.
By Jeremiah Chemakany
In the lush heart of Baringo County lies Eldama Ravine, a vibrant town rich in history and community spirit.
While the region is well-known for its deep roots and tales dating back to colonial explorers like Frederick Lugard, a more personal and inspiring story has quietly taken root right here in our midst.
Rural Times Newspaper brings you the remarkable journey of Alice Epron Emmetto, a 57-year-old Turkana woman who stands out as a true trailblazer. As a pioneering landscaper from her community, Alice has transformed her passion for nature into a beautiful calling that connects her early days in Nairobi's Karen suburb with her current home in Eldama Ravine’s Bondeni Estate.
A Childhood Rooted in Karen and Ngong Alice’s story begins far from Baringo, in the exclusive Karen and Ngong regions of Nairobi, where her parents worked for the prominent British settler family of Jimmy Brooks.
Her father, Emmetto, worked in the dairy department, while her mother, Grace Lomoluk, tended to the vibrant gardens.
Growing up amidst sprawling lawns, fragrant blooms, and lush greenery, young Alice was utterly transfixed.
While speaking with Rural Times she recalled making a powerful promise to herself: “Once I became an adult and was able to own a home, I would transform it into a garden of flowers, just like that of Jimmy Brooks.”
Those early years were also filled with childhood wonder. Alongside adventures exploring the dense Ngong Forest—where she once famously encountered the wild remnants of history—her deepest connection remained with the natural beauty of blooming plants.
Blooming into a Trailblazer in Baringo Today, that childhood promise is a living reality in Bondeni Estate, Eldama Ravine.
As a self-taught landscaper, Alice has become a respected figure across Baringo County, visiting various homes to plant flowers and turn dull compounds into breathtaking, colorful sanctuaries.
Sharing her journey, Alice highlighted her favorite plant: the Money Maker vine, a lush green climber adorning her living room that naturally purifies the air.
What started purely as a labor of love has also brought unexpected economic blessings.
Curious flower enthusiasts frequently flock to her home, and she once earned KSh 6,000 from the sale of a single potted money maker.
Looking ahead, she is expanding her green-thumb horizons by introducing profitable ventures like dragon fruit seedlings sourced from Central Kenya, teaching her visitors how to cultivate them for income.
A Heart as Open as Her Garden Alice’s deep care for nature is matched only by her profound compassion for people.
Her hospitality extends to vulnerable street children in Eldama Ravine.
She currently opens her home to a teenage boy who is a former street child—a selfless act of kindness that has earned her widespread respect at the Eldama Ravine children's office.
For members of the Turkana community near and far, Alice is a shining example of what passion, resilience, and vision look like.
She proves that a love for the earth can transcend cultural boundaries, build community, and bring peace to the human mind.
If you would like to reach Alice Epron Emmetto for landscaping advice, flower purchases, or to support her community initiatives, you can contact her directly at 0799585734.
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