2024 was the ‘year of civic activism’ in Kenya. From the powerful #EndFemicideKE protests advocating for gender justice following the rise in femicide in Kenya, to the flood protests against forced evictions and demolitions in Kenya’s informal settlements, the country saw powerful citizens’ voices reverberate through the year.
And when the Finance bill protests led by Kenya’s vibrant Gen Z caught global attention and led to President Ruto’s decline to sign the bill into law, Kenya began to inspire similar movements led by young people in Nigeria and Uganda.
Active civic engagement at the grassroots has driven this new wave of movements in Kenya.
When citizen’s movements do not yield their outcomes immediately, It is easy to consider them unsuccessful, but in 2024, women from marginalised communities taught us that the definition of victory in social justice is a lot wider than that.
The Victory is in the Grassroots
In 2024, Nguvu Change leaders from across Kenya led various forms of focussed, grassroots campaigns seeking change on issues in their communities. In the course of their advocacy, these women have grown into voices and strong leaders who are taking steps to address them at their own level.
Harriet Afandi, Josephine Mwende, and Deborah Monari started a national conversation about Obstetric Violence (OBV) in Kenya through grassroots research featuring stories of women in Kenya who have experienced one form of OBV or the other. The research report, which was widely reported by local and international media, was also presented to key decision-makers including Senator Omtatah, Hon Gathoni Wamuchomba, and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Organisation (KEWOPA). These policymakers will work with Harriet, Josephine, and Deborah to come up with a policy that protects women from OBV across Kenya. Our change leaders have proven that for policy change to happen, the voices of people at the grassroots must be brought forward. Our Change leaders also taught us that advocacy is more effective when it is led by people with lived experience of the issues they’re campaigning on because they can shine the spotlight on new areas of the issue that are less talked about.
Women and girls in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions are disproportionately impacted by period poverty given the nature of their geography. Nguvu Change Leader, Amina Guyo Abdi, is working to change this narrative alongside fellow Change Leaders, Frida Karani and Sylvia Awinja.
Amina launched the Sitiri Campaign Menstrual Health Education Guide, an educational booklet designed to empower school children (both boys and girls) with knowledge about menstruation and hygiene. This resource was a crucial step in breaking the stigma around menstruation and ensuring that learners have the information they need to care for their menstrual health confidently and respectfully.
Amina, Frida, and Sylvia also surveyed women and girls in Kenya to understand the accessibility and affordability of sanitary products in Kenya. The report is due for release in Q1 2025, and will spotlight the ground realities and urgent needs from women and girls on menstrual products.
Naomy Kolian and Selina Nkoile are breaking the blade to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains one of the most egregious violations of human rights, with over 200 million women and girls worldwide affected. In Kenya, despite legal frameworks banning the practice, FGM persists, with over 21% of girls and women continuing to face this life-altering violence.
#BreakTheBlade, a campaign by FGM survivors, started as a social media campaign to share their lived experiences, but soon grew to become a national campaign launched in Nairobi by Nguvu Collective, KEWOPA & the Anti-FGM Board. Now, Selina and Naomy seek to engage girls in the grassroots, cultural leaders and political representatives to join the defiant campaign to #BreakTheBlade in Kenya.
Amplifying Grassroot Voices in 2025
These are just a few examples of how young women leaders are breaking the glass ceiling and pioneering local, grassroots movements in Kenya. There are so many more unseen and unheard voices, stories and coalitions that toil silently for ground level change.
In 2025, let’s celebrate many more women-led movements, many more women leaders who are spearheading these movements. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these women and their grassroots activism is seen and heard.
_____
Durga Nandini is the Chief Advisor and Co-founder of Nguvu Collective.
