For many years, life in Nairobi defined the daily routine of Naomi Wanjiru and her younger sister, Moreen Kagendo.
They understood the city’s fast pace, heavy traffic, and demanding work culture all too well.
Despite the opportunities, the sisters felt emotionally and financially exhausted.
The constant rush left little room for peace, reflection, or personal freedom.
Driven by a desire for a healthier and more meaningful lifestyle, they made a daring decision.
They packed their belongings and relocated to the Philippines, thousands of kilometres away from home.
Today, Naomi and Moreen live in Lake Sebu, a quiet rural community in South Cotabato.
Their mornings now begin with birdsong instead of hooting cars.
The sisters have embraced small-scale farming as their main source of livelihood.
They grow vegetables on fertile land and live in a simple bamboo house surrounded by crops.
Each day starts at sunrise.
They spend hours planting, watering, harvesting, and maintaining their farm.
Most of what they grow feeds them directly.
Any surplus is sold locally, giving them a steady but pressure-free income.
Through their YouTube channel, Mii Adventures, the sisters share their rural journey with viewers around the world.
They say their move was motivated by sustainability, better well-being, and freedom from urban stress.
Naomi explains that farm life offers a rare sense of fulfilment.
“You see the results of your work immediately, and that changes how you value life,” she says.
The transition was not without challenges.
Adapting to a new culture, learning farming techniques, and adjusting to rural isolation took time.
Joining local farming cooperatives made the process easier.
The sisters gained practical knowledge and built meaningful relationships within the community.
Moreen describes the strong sense of togetherness as life-changing.
“People support each other here. You feel seen and connected,” she shares.
Living with fewer possessions, relying on natural water sources, and following nature’s rhythm has brought them peace.
The slower pace has given them clarity they never experienced in the city.
Leaving Nairobi meant sacrificing convenience.
However, Naomi and Moreen gained purpose, independence, and a deep sense of fulfilment rooted in the land they now call home.