How Dominic Orina Combines Teaching and Agriculture to Transform Lives.
Dominic Ming’ate Orina has become a household name in Kenya, especially among agriculture enthusiasts. His journey began in 2017 when he was affected by the government’s delocalisation policy, which reassigned teachers to their home counties. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) posted Orina to Kugerwet Primary School in Konoin Constituency, Bomet County, far from his roots in Nyamira County.
Accustomed to a diet rich in vegetables and fruits in Nyamira, Orina quickly noticed the scarcity of such produce in Konoin, where tea growing and dairy farming dominated. Renting a room at Satiet shopping centre, he sought to create a kitchen garden for personal consumption.
With his landlord’s approval, he cultivated collard greens, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, beetroot, onions, and other vegetables, which soon flourished and caught the attention of his neighbors.
By 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Orina’s small-scale gardening efforts gained a wider audience. The lockdown measures led him to share images of his thriving kitchen garden on social media, drawing admiration and inquiries from both local and diaspora-based Kenyans.
This overwhelming interest inspired him to launch a Facebook page, “Sacks and Containers Gardening Tips,” where he shared innovative farming practices. Today, the page boasts over 470,000 followers, marking a significant milestone in his journey.
Innovations in Education
When schools reopened in 2021, Orina capitalized on the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC), which emphasized practical agriculture. Collaborating with Kugerwet Primary School’s headteacher, he established a school farming project, growing vegetables and rearing rabbits.
Together with his pupils, Orina revived the once-famous 4K clubs under the motto “Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya” (Uniting, Doing, Helping Kenya). This initiative fostered innovation, self-sufficiency, and financial literacy as students sold surplus vegetables to improve community nutrition.
Beyond the classroom, Orina partnered with parents and students to establish kitchen gardens, empowering families and addressing food insecurity. His efforts have significantly boosted learners’ discipline, responsibility, and academic performance, earning him recognition as a transformative educator.
Orina’s compassion extends beyond agriculture. Through his “Dress Me Up” initiative, he has provided over 150 pupils from underprivileged backgrounds with new uniforms, boosting their self-esteem and school attendance.
With support from online fans and well-wishers, he has also distributed sanitary towels and learning materials to needy students. Orina believes such interventions help eliminate barriers to education, enabling more children to stay in school.
Recognition and Achievements
Orina’s impactful work has not gone unnoticed. Before his nomination for the Global Teacher Prize, he was honored by UNESCO for outstanding community service and recognized by the Ministry of Education as the best innovative teacher in CBC within the Cheptalal zone.
In 2021, he secured second place in three awards by the Optiven Foundation. Orina now stands as the third Kenyan to make it to the top 50 of the prestigious Global Teacher Prize since its inception in 2015.
In January 2023, Orina expressed gratitude for his shortlisting in the 9th Global Teacher Prize, where the winner receives Sh129 million (USD 1 million).
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He credited his success to the support of his students, parents, and the community, reaffirming his commitment to improving lives through education. He joins the ranks of past Kenyan nominees, including Peter Tabichi, who won the award in 2019, and Linah Anyango, a finalist in 2020.
Despite his achievements, Orina leads a modest life. When not teaching, he tends to his kitchen garden at Satiet shopping centre or visits his family in Manga during holidays. His dedication to agriculture and education continues to inspire many, making him a beacon of hope and innovation in his community.
By blending innovation, resilience, and compassion, Dominic Ming’ate Orina exemplifies the transformative power of education and agriculture, leaving a lasting impact on his community and beyond.
How Dominic Orina Combines Teaching and Agriculture to Transform Lives.
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