2024 was the ‘12 months of civic activism’ in Kenya. From the highly effective #EndFemicideKE protests advocating for gender justice following the rise in femicide in Kenya, to the flood protests towards pressured evictions and demolitions in Kenya’s casual settlements, the nation noticed highly effective residents’ voices reverberate by way of the 12 months.
And when the Finance invoice protests led by Kenya’s vibrant Gen Z caught international consideration and led to President Ruto’s decline to signal the invoice into regulation, Kenya started to encourage related actions led by younger folks in Nigeria and Uganda.
Energetic civic engagement on the grassroots has pushed this new wave of actions in Kenya.
When citizen’s actions don’t yield their outcomes instantly, It’s simple to contemplate them unsuccessful, however in 2024, girls from marginalised communities taught us that the definition of victory in social justice is so much wider than that.
The Victory is within the Grassroots
In 2024, Nguvu Change leaders from throughout Kenya led numerous types of focussed, grassroots campaigns in search of change on points of their communities. In the middle of their advocacy, these girls have grown into voices and powerful leaders who’re taking steps to deal with them at their very own degree.
Harriet Afandi, Josephine Mwende, and Deborah Monari began a nationwide dialog about Obstetric Violence (OBV) in Kenya by way of grassroots analysis that includes tales of girls in Kenya who’ve skilled one type of OBV or the opposite. The research report, which was broadly reported by native and worldwide media, was additionally introduced to key decision-makers together with Senator Omtatah, Hon Gathoni Wamuchomba, and the Kenya Girls Parliamentary Organisation (KEWOPA). These policymakers will work with Harriet, Josephine, and Deborah to provide you with a coverage that protects girls from OBV throughout Kenya. Our change leaders have confirmed that for coverage change to occur, the voices of individuals on the grassroots have to be introduced ahead. Our Change leaders additionally taught us that advocacy is more practical when it’s led by folks with lived expertise of the problems they’re campaigning on as a result of they’ll shine the highlight on new areas of the problem which are much less talked about.
Girls and women in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) areas are disproportionately impacted by interval poverty given the character of their geography. Nguvu Change Chief, Amina Guyo Abdi, is working to vary this narrative alongside fellow Change Leaders, Frida Karani and Sylvia Awinja.
Amina launched the Sitiri Marketing campaign Menstrual Well being Schooling Information, an academic booklet designed to empower faculty youngsters (each girls and boys) with data about menstruation and hygiene. This useful resource was an important step in breaking the stigma round menstruation and guaranteeing that learners have the data they should care for his or her menstrual well being confidently and respectfully.
Amina, Frida, and Sylvia additionally surveyed girls and women in Kenya to know the accessibility and affordability of sanitary merchandise in Kenya. The report is due for launch in Q1 2025, and can highlight the bottom realities and pressing wants from girls and women on menstrual merchandise.
Naomy Kolian and Selina Nkoile are breaking the blade to finish Feminine Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya.
Feminine Genital Mutilation (FGM) stays one of the crucial egregious violations of human rights, with over 200 million girls and women worldwide affected. In Kenya, regardless of authorized frameworks banning the follow, FGM persists, with over 21% of women and girls persevering with to face this life-altering violence.
#BreakTheBlade, a marketing campaign by FGM survivors, began as a social media campaign to share their lived experiences, however quickly grew to develop into a nationwide marketing campaign launched in Nairobi by Nguvu Collective, KEWOPA & the Anti-FGM Board. Now, Selina and Naomy search to have interaction women within the grassroots, cultural leaders and political representatives to hitch the defiant marketing campaign to #BreakTheBlade in Kenya.
Amplifying Grassroot Voices in 2025
These are just some examples of how younger girls leaders are breaking the glass ceiling and pioneering native, grassroots actions in Kenya. There are such a lot of extra unseen and unheard voices, tales and coalitions that toil silently for floor degree change.
In 2025, let’s rejoice many extra women-led actions, many extra girls leaders who’re spearheading these actions. It’s our collective accountability to make sure that these girls and their grassroots activism is seen and heard.
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Durga Nandini is the Chief Advisor and Co-founder of Nguvu Collective.