Foreword Dear Reader, In most communities across Kenya and in Africa there are pockets of resistance to oppression led by motivated and selfless community organisers. These adept organisers have led the way in mobilizing communities to pursue a reality that honors their dignity and worth as human beings. They have left trails of footprints that show a continued resistance geared towards transforming communities. This book captures stories of resilience, friendships, hope and ingenuity in the face of opposition; of the second cohort of the Fahamu Pan African Fellows in 2013. The Fellowship programme is an open-learning process that combines theory and praxis in organising work. The 2013 cohort was a learning interface between community-based activists from different parts of the country and scholar-activists with the aim of nurturing a cadre of leaders who are conscious of social justice as a transformative struggle. The Programme has continued to provide opportunities for African women and men to enhance their skills, experience and deepen their theoretical understanding of the tactics for effective advocacy and creating meaningful change, at the same time as strengthening their community based organizations and movements.
About the Fellowship This publication provides a snapshot of six fellows who have been core of the fellowship program. These are Angeline Ntarisa from Marsabit County, a member of Voice of Karare, Emily Kwamboka of Bunge La Wamama movement from Nairobi, Everlyne Mukite from Mount Elgon Residents’ Association, Mercy Ilanyi form Kenya Female Advisory Organisation in Migori County, John Kamoni of Muungano Wa Wanavijiji movement in Nairobi and Tipape Naini a member of the Kajiado Youth Alliance. It profiles the struggles they have pioneered with their communities by using innovative approaches that seek to build support of their constituents to transform structures of power and systems of injustice. The symbolism depicted by the fellows’ footprints goes to tell of the existence of fresh actions for change and a reminder of a youthful presence in the national and global struggle. Their activism continues to leave a mark of enlightenment and inspiration that the fellowship programme has aimed to realize. The second FPAF programme drew from the collective efforts of the fellows’ affiliate organizations and movements, host organizations, facilitators, mentors and the Fahamu team. We take this opportunity to appreciate all this effort that was geared towards a new reality in activism. We specifically would like to acknowledge the time, knowledge and experiences that the following individuals shared: Catherine Chepkemboi, Kang’ethe Mungai, Josephine Nashipae, Eunice Temko, Kiama Kiaara, Leigh Brownhil, Margaret Ilimo, Francis Selasini, Can Caxson, Eluka Chelu Kibona, Myrtle Witbooi and Thembelani Maqwazima.
We would also like to thank the following faculty members who led both reflective and learning processes during the fellowship: Eva Ayiera, Kiama Kaara, Mshai Mwangola, Najia Sabeen, Salome Nduta and Steve Ouma. Their input to the learning process was immeasurable. We wish to recognize the generous support that we got from the organisations that hosted fellows for learning: Abhalali Base Mjodolo movement, Concerned Children and Youth Association, Community Development and Sustainability Organisation, Horn of Africa Development initiative, Hakii Jamii, Coalition on Violence Against Women, Manyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organisation, Migori Civic Local Affairs Network, Pastoralists Indigenous Non Governmental Organisation, Tanzania Gender Network Program and South Africa Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union. Finally we would like to thank the Ford Foundation - Eastern Africa for the financial and advisory support that made the FPAF 2 possible. We particularly thank Maurice Makoloo and Hanna Ahere for the support they extended to enable us achieve our set objectives. The team support by the Fahamu family cannot be underestimated as it made all planned processes connect. I thank them for this as well. I urge you as you read through this publication to draw lessons, insights and inspiration from the stories of resistance by the communities that the fellows represent in their search to recreate a just and democratic Kenya. Zo Randriamaro, Executive Director (a.i)
Angeline'Ntarisa
Angeline'is'from'Karare,'Marsabit'County'in'theNorthern'part'of' Kenya.''She'is'youth'advocate'for'alterna>ve'cultural'rites'of'passage' among'the'communi>es'of'Marsabit.'' Angeline'is'very'passionate'in'engaging'her'community'on'the'ills'of' FGM'in'her'struggle'for'young'women’s'rights'among'the'Rendille,' Borana,'and'Gabra'communi>es.' She'is'an'ac>ve'community'organizer'with'the'Voice'of'Karare;'a' youth'movement'that'was'conceived'by'a'group'of'friends'keen'in' advoca>ng'for'girl'rights'in'their'community.''Part'of'her'organizing' with'Voice'of'Karare'has'involved'the'puJng'together'of'beauty' pageants'and'football'tournaments'for'young'girls;'this'is'a'star' affirming'their'abili>es'and'worth'in'their'communi>es.'' Angeline'is'avid'at'journaling'and'wri>ng;'she'also'dabbles'in'Swahili' poetry'as'her'medium'of'expression.'
“Angeline(is(a(hardworking(community(organizer( based(in(Marsabit.(She(is(a(big(advocate(and( community(educator(on(issues(to(do(with(girl(child( empowerment.(She(is(also(a(fun(and(outgoing(person( who(interacts(with(anyone(easily.(During(the(fellowship( Angeline(has(taught(me(how(to(be(easier(with(my( interac?ons(in(my(work(in(ac?vism.”(( As(described(by(Everlyne(Mukite,(FPAF(2(Alumni(
Angeline Ntarisa
Left: sharing her thoughts during a Fellowship workshop Right: takes a pose at the Nyerere Intellectual Festival
Everlyne Mukite
Top: during a workshop exercise Right: in Lira, Uganda during her regional placement
Everlyne'Mukite
Everlyne'comes'from'a'village'called'Cheptais'in'a'region'that'is' recovering'from'land'conflicts'that'were'characterised'by'armed' aPacks'on'civilians'by'the'Sabaot'Land'Defence'Force.'Her'organising' has'focussed'on'mobilising'communi>es'to'ensure'children'access' basic'educa>on,'are'protected'from'sexual'and'physical'abuse'and' child'labor.' As'a'trained'paralegal'she'has'led'from'the'front'in'ensuring' community'members'report'cases'of'child'abuse'and'has'seen'several' prosecu>ons'that'in'the'past'would'have'been'illegally'resolved' through'dialogue'between'families.' She'has'honed'her'organising'skills'by'collabora>ng'and'networking' with'like'minded'partners'such'as'local'NGOs,'school'principals'and' area'leaders'to'promote'community'based'children's'rights' interven>ons.
“Everlyne(is(a(Leader.(She(is(also(a(hardworking(and( respecGul(lady.((Her((passion(comes(from(the(children( she(advocates(for(and(the(community(stakeholders.( She(defends(children’s(rights(with(zeal(and(believes( that(they,(the(children,(are(the(backbone(of(the(African( Social(change.((She(has(taught(me(courage(as(virtue(in( facing(the(reali?es(of(my(struggles.” As(described(by(Angeline(Ntarisa,(FPAF(2(Alumni
Emily Kwamboka
Top: shares an energizer moment with Everlyne Right: exchanging ideas with a fellow
Emily'Kwamboka'
Emily'is'a'community'organizer'and'mobiliser'in'the'Mathare' informal'sePlement.'In'the'past'her'ac>vism'has'involved' community'lobbying'in'peace'ini>a>ves,'civic'educa>on'and' women’s'rights.' She'primarily'focuses''on''domes>c'workers'rights''working' with'women'from'the'urban'informal'sePlements'in'Nairobi. ' She'has'worked'with'Wamama'Wa'Dhobi'X'domes>c'workers' movement'X'and'is'eager'to'start'a'domes>c'workers'union'in' Nairobi.''Emily'is'an'ac>ve'member'of'both'Bunge'La' Mwananchi'(People’s'Parliament)'and'its'subsidiary'Bunge'La' Wamama'(Women’s'Parliament)'movements.
“Emily(is(a(very(strong(and(influen?al(character(and( talka?ve(too.(She(has(consistently(defended(the(rights( of(domes?c(workers.(Emily(is(an(ac?vist.(She(is(a(brave( and(resolved(community(organizer;(her(social(jus?ce( convic?ons(can(never(be(compromised.((She(is(ever( roo?ng(on(the(side(of(the(oppressed;(this(is(what(I( admire(most(about(her.”(( As(described(by(Mercy(Ilanyi,(FPAF(2(Alumni
Mercy Ilanyi Left: during a gender based violence awareness campaign in Migori Right: picking her CBO certificate at the Migori county offices
Mercy'Ilanyi
Mercy'is'a'ac>ve'community'mobilizer'for'women's'rights'to' land,'decision'making'processes,'food'produc>on'and'gender' equity. She'has'been'working'with'local'based'organisa>ons'to' promote'women'literacy'as'a'strategy'to'raising'their' consciousness'on'structures'that'oppress'them'and'derive' strategies'of'empowerment.'She'has'collaborated'with'district' and'county'adult'educa>on'offices. In'her'ac>vism'she'has'believed'in'community'involvement,' recogni>on'of'local'skills'necessary'for'organising,'and'championing' for'par>cipa>on'of'women'in'leadership'posi>ons'from'the' household'to'na>onal'levelsIn'this'effort.'Mercy'is'keen'to'invite'
men'in'this'process'of'holis>c'social'inclusion.'
“Mercy(is(a(courageous,(bold(and(out(spoken(women’s( rights(advocate.(Her(own(personal(experiences(give( her(the(fire(and(conviction(with(which(she(carries(out( her(activism.(She(is(an(ambitious(and(resourceful( individual(with(extensive(networks(in(her(community.”( As(described(by(Emily(Kwamboka,(FPAF(2(Alumni
Tipape'Naini
Left:(makes(a(presentation(during(a(fellowship(workshop(he(hosted( in(Kajiado Right:(engages(other(fellows(at(the(Nyerere(Intellectual(Festival
Tipape'Naini'
Naini'is'a'civic'educator'who'has'been'organising'on' par>cipatory'budge>ng'ini>a>ves'in'Kajiado'County.'As'a'youth' and'land'rights'ac>vist'and'current'chair'of'the'Kajiado'County' Youth'Alliance.' Naini'has'engaged'the'county'and'na>onal'parliamentary' leaders'to'demand'for'youth'sensi>ve'agenda'and'plans'at' county'and'na>onal'levels.'Due'to'his'campaigning'with'the' youth'alliance,'the'Kajiado'county'has'been'able'to' accommodate'the'youth''in'the'county'cons>tu>on'in'regards' to'employment'and'leadership.'The'county'budgets'now' represent'the'priori>es'of'the'communi>es'and'different' groups.
“Naini(is(a(leader.(He(is(very(influen?al(with(the(Kajiado( youths.(His(source(of(passion(is(his(community,(especially( the(youth.(He(has(taught(me(that(as(an(ac?vist(I(should((be( firm(in(my(convic?on(even(in(the(face(of(adversity.(I(have( also(learned(that(there(are(other(avenues(of(resolving( conflict.” As(described(by(John(Njihia,(FPAF(2(Alumni
John'Njihia
John'is'a'member'of''Muungano'Wa'Wanavijiji,''a'movement' that'advocates'for'housing'rights'for'slum'dwellers.'He'is'based' in'Mathare’s'Kosovo'area'where'he'champions'for'security'of' land'tenure'and'proper'housing'for'its'inhabitants.' He'has'been'involved'with'the'structuralising'process'of'the' water'and'sanita>on'system'in'Mathare.'John'wishes'to'see' Kosovo'and'the'greater'Mathare,'recognized'as'a'sePlement'by' law'and'reflec>ng'humane'living'standards.'He He'has'been'keen'to'network'and'employ'dialogue'and' nego>a>ons'as'avenues'of'securing'housing'rights'in'Kosovo.' His'advocacy'has'involved'doorXtoXdoor'campaigns,'daily'saving' schemes'and'lobbying.
“Johnny(is(a(jovial,(good(hearted(and(hardworking( individual.(He(is(passionate(about(land(tenure(and(housing( rights(jus?ce.(He(is(an(ac?ve(community(organizer(involved( in(efforts(like(community(resource(mobiliza?on(and( government(nego?a?ons(for(the(rights(of(his(community(in( Kosovo,(Mathare.(For(Johnny,(the(sky(is(the(limit.(I(admire( his(focus(and(discipline(in(his(ac?vism.” As(described(by(Tipape(Naini,(FPAF(2(Alumni
John'Njihia Top:((articulating(his( activism(during(a( workshop Bottom:((during(a(visit(to( the(Huruma’s(Muungano( Wa(Wanavijiji(housing( project(site