Mashaka Lewela-Founder Weni Mashaqa Jewellery

Mashaka Lewela,a Kenyan-based jewellery designer, is the founder of Weni Mashaqa, a gemstone jewellery brand born out of a desire to address the waste of small, less valuable gemstones. Recognizing that many of these stones are often discarded, she set out to transform them into high-quality, affordable jewellery, making gemstone pieces more accessible to Kenyans and a wider audience. By blending art and fashion, Mashaka creates elegant designs that highlight the natural beauty of gemstones, using sterling silver pieces thickly plated with 18k gold.

Raised in the Taita Taveta mining community, Mashaka’s background in a mining family shaped her passion for the gemstone industry and continues to influence her work. Through her brand, she not only celebrates craftsmanship and design but also empowers her community by creating opportunities to add value to crushed gemstones and generate income. Her work reflects a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and turning overlooked materials into timeless jewellery pieces.