Mariam Hamisi and Fatuma Mwanjenje have to bear the pain of sharp and slippery rocks as they wade through water at the Munje Creek in Msambweni.
It is about mid-morning, and the women are rushing to get into the mangrove forest before the water tide rises.
Bare foot on the sharp rocks and mud water; it's a delicate balance the women must maintain because one mistake could likely result in serious injuries.
Several women in front of the two can be heard screaming in pain, as small sharp rocks accidentally pierced through their soft feet.
On top of their heads and in their hands they have carried mangrove seedlings trying to penetrate through the intertwined and heavily infested mud pathway.
But no matter what the circumstance, the women must keep going, to fulfil their quest of saving mother nature.
Hamisi and Mwanjenje are among the 30 women who have solely volunteered to restore the degraded mangroves and conserve the environment.
They work under the Tunusuru Conservation Group, a women conservation-led community-based organisation.
It is a work that they have been doing for five years now. Despite scars, injuries and intimidations, the women have stood firm to protect nature.
"We are a women-led CBO focused on environmental conservation, especially through mangroves restoration," Hamisi said.
The women have so far rehabilitated more than 300 hectares of mangroves.
According to Hamisi, conservation is not an easy journey and requires great sacrifice.
She said it is out of passion for conservation that they are risking their lives. Despite some organisations coming on board to support them, there are still numerous challenges, she says.
Hamisi said they are forced to work with no proper tools to promote conservation.
The women mainly operate barefoot and without gloves, a factor that exposes them to injuries and other health hazards.
"Some people throw broken glasses in water which are dragged to the mangroves and during plantation you can accidentally step on them, not forgetting huge slippery sharp rocks around the mangroves," she said.
Mwanjenje said it takes great courage to work through the slippery sharp rocks because sometimes you could fall and hurt yourself.
The mother of five children said most women have several scars on their feet and arms as a result of injuries suffered.
The women are of middle and elderly age, with the majority of them not knowing how to swim and having to carefully study the water tides or else get stuck in between the mangroves during planting.
"Most of these areas you cannot use a boat because the pathways are too narrow and you have to navigate in between the mangroves while monitoring the water levels," she said.
Mwanjenje said sometimes they fear being raped and beaten because the restoration programme is done by only women.
She claimed men sometimes sneak in the mangroves, trying to cut some of the trees for construction and firewood and they are unable to stop them.
She, however, said despite the hurdles the benefits outweigh the risks.
According to their chairperson Mwanadiwani Baishe, last year they earned sh4, 969, 900 from conservation.
The group sold 50,000 mangrove seedlings to the Kenya Marine and Socio-Economic Development and received the money.
Baishe added that they also make thousands of money each harvesting season from beekeeping, where the women sell their honey to residents and various non-governmental organisations.
Through the profits they have managed to build a hall, offices and a fish stall.
Apart from mangrove restoration, the women also collect plastics and glass bottles for recycling.
Baishe said through the project they create awareness of environmental pollution.
With the support of Base Titanium, the women have erected a perimeter wall purely made from recycled glass bottles.
The recycling initiative has opened up opportunities for ecotourism and learning as students and tourists visit the site.
Baishe said the project has empowered many women and residents on conservation, which has enabled a large of them to earn a living, pay for school fees and improve their lives.
Mwanjenje and Hamisi said before the project, they were languishing in poverty.
The duo said they have now expanded their network, are known by many people and gained respect and recognition.
The duo said they have also broadened their knowledge of conservation and restoration efforts.
Mwanjenje added that they are currently teaching the rest of the community on mangroves conservation and seedling production.
According to Hamisi, the project transformed her life and made her financially stable. She can now buy anything of her choice without depending on her husband.