Jacinta Mwende: “Mama Azuri” of Kenya
Jacinta’s new title, “Mama Azuri”, reflects her happiness in her job and new sense of purpose: helping others improve their lives by having access to clean energy.
Jacinta Mwende Ndambuki (38) lives with her three children in Mkaa, a small ward within Makueni, Eastern Kenya. Whilst her eldest son is in Mount Kenya University in Thika studying architectural science, Jacinta’s two younger sons still live at home and help her day-to-day. Her husband, Julius, mostly works away as a machine operator in Uganda.
Jacinta’s journey to becoming an Azuri agent began in 2019 when she purchased her own Azuri solar home system. Her friends in the village had been talking about their new solar systems and, keen to move away from the costly kerosene lamps and the leaking lead acid battery sat in her main room, Jacinta decided to visit her friend Anne to see whether the system lived up to the rumours.
Waiting until it was dark to test the effects properly, Jacinta headed to Anne’s house to look at their new Azuri system. The lights were bright but warm, so they didn’t hurt her eyes like blue light products, and it stretched across the whole room rather than a small lamp just lighting one spot. Anne showed her the tube light which she uses outside to protect her home from strangers and animals, and told Jacinta of how much safer she felt compared to before. They moved into the living room and switched on the solar TV, Jacinta listened to the rechargeable radio, and her friend even plugged in Jacinta’s phone to charge whilst she was there. This was all being powered by the 50W panel on the top of her friend’s home.
Jacinta and Julius quickly weighed their options. To stay as they were meant continuing to waste time and money carrying the heavy lead battery all the way into Upete market, spending money to recharge it so it could then power their phones, and buy kerosene for lighting so their youngest children could study in the evenings. Jacinta thought of the feeling her friend had described to her since having her Azuri kit and decided there and then:
“I was so tired of it! I knew this was better than wasting my time and money. I saw for myself if Azuri was worth it. I never used that lead battery again, and I’ve never looked back!”
Jacinta and Julius called their nearest Agent to install the Azuri solar home lighting system as soon as possible. Everyone in their household was so happy with the performance of the solar lighting system, and soon Jacinta started advocating for it strongly to her family, friends and neighbours.
Soon after her installation, however, thieves broke into Jacinta’s home and stole her torch and radio. When the local Azuri manager heard of this, he knew she recognised Jacinta’s name already as Jacinta’s recommendations to friends had already referred a number of customers to purchase Azuri products. The manager noticed she had a knack for sales and offered her a job on the spot.
“I didn’t even expect it. They offered me the job and I immediately took it. Within that first week I got seven customers!” Jacinta says.
“Since I am able to make some extra money now, I have been able to complete my payment for the Azuri lighting system and I even upgraded to a TV now! I no longer need to take my phone to the neighbours to charge or to the market, I can comfortably charge it at home. Even my youngest son can now have his friends over to watch TV”, Jacinta says. “I have even been able to have a small housing project at home. I have gathered enough money to add on an extra room to our house”.
Jacinta is a spiritual woman who loves attending church, but now that these are closed due to COVID-19 restrictions she enjoys her Sunday Service and gospel music in the comfort of her solar powered TV at home.
“I listen to gospel music and even a bit of bongo music on Kiss TV Channel. I also enjoy having my sons in the house more often as they now watch TV at home with me.”
Jacinta credits her sales success to her own positive experiences with Azuri. She thinks that showing people the benefits is far more powerful than anything else, and really engaging with her customers and wanting to help them receive the benefits she has herself.
“People in our area even call me Mama Azuri now, and it makes me very happy. I often visit people in their homes and use the fliers to explain all about Azuri lighting products.”
As her “Mama Azuri” reputation grows, Jacinta keeps getting more referrals. COVID-19 has changed life in so many ways in Mkaa, with families cut off from their usual TV and radio updates in the local bars and schools due to lockdown. Jacinta’s sales have been increasing since many people have travelled back to their rural villages and want reliable, affordable and clean power in their homes to stay connected to the outside world. Furthermore, as lockdown demands people spend more time inside, many new customers seek Jacinta to install their Azuri units to pass this time more comfortably with entertainment and light on demand.
Jacinta’s work life has ramped up significantly and, with all children back at home, she made sure to make changes to manage the work/life balance well.
“If I have a customer for an install or market day activation, I make sure I have fetched water, cleaned the house and prepared some food. Then I can go and install the products and when I come back, I make sure to complete any pending work there may be,” Jacinta adds. She is glad to be working with Azuri to keep her busy during these unusual times.
Jacinta says that working at Azuri has given her an added sense of purpose, and that she thrives in being able to help others. Her confidence and independence have grown, and her reputation for selling from genuine experience has been prosperous for her.
“I have been able to earn the respect of my husband and even my peers. It really makes me glad to have my own income as well. I don’t know how I got so good at it but truly all praise goes to God.” Jacinta concludes.