Impact Story: Empowering Grassroots Advocacy through Youth Groups 

Across Siaya, Homa Bay, and Kericho counties, the Haki Mashinani initiative sparked a grassroots movement that empowered youth, women, and marginalised communities to claim their rights and demand better governance. With support from the EU-funded Haki Ni Yetu project, the local organisation Siasa Place worked with youth groups to help young people transform informal networks into strong organisations capable of driving meaningful change.  

“Haki Mashinani not only strengthened our capacity as young people but also built our confidence to engage with local leaders. Today, community members reach out to us for support because they see us as a trusted voice for accountability. We are deeply grateful for this empowerment and hope to continue building on this impact,” said Kelvin Kipchirchir, Chairperson of Voices for Justice CBO, one of the youth groups supported. 

At the heart of Haki Mashinani was the belief that local voices matter. Through the project, Siasa Place built the capacity of three youth-led community-based organisations: Dak Achana, Voices for Justice, and County Voice and Rights in Siaya, Kericho, and Homa Bay. The initiative began by identifying human rights concerns through surveys and forums, revealing issues such as stalled infrastructure, poor sanitation, limited healthcare access, and gender-based injustices. Rather than stopping at documentation, communities were equipped to take action and demand accountability. 

In Homa Bay, residents mobilised to push for the completion of the Nyalbari Bridge, vital to over 6,000 people. In Siaya, advocacy led to the renovation of a maternity wing at Ndere Hospital. In Kericho, campaigns tackled public health concerns by addressing the pollution at the Ainamoi slaughterhouse and revived a stalled tea buying centre.  

“We’ve seen youth evolve from passive observers to active rights holders. Their leadership is reshaping governance at the grassroots,” said Ken Ogembo, Program Manager at Siasa Place. 

 

Community-Led Accountability in Action 

In Kericho County, the stalled Chepkowa Tea Buying Centre (terminal market where suppliers and wholesalers meet) had become a symbol of broken promises. For over five years, tea farmers endured long travel distances, high transport costs, and reduced income due to the incomplete facility. Through Haki Mashinani, the local youth group Voices for Justice gained the skills to act. 

“With support from Haki Mashinani, our CBO was empowered to take action on key community issues. One major success was the Chepkowa Tea Buying Centre, which had stalled since 2014. We followed up persistently until the centre became operational,” said Kelvin Kipchirchir. 

The community documented the state of the abandoned project, filed petitions and letters to county officials, and used local radio and social media to raise awareness. They also participated in forums and advocacy trackers to maintain pressure on authorities. 

“Digital advocacy was a game-changer. Social media gave youth a platform to amplify their voices and demand accountability,” said Ken Ogembo. 

Their efforts led to the revival of the centre, now nearing completion—restoring dignity, improving livelihoods, and rebuilding trust between citizens and leaders. 

“Today, the community finally has a functioning tea buying centre. It has greatly benefited local farmers and strengthened trust in our work,” Kelvin Kipchirchir summarised. 

Wider Impact: Scaling Up Grassroots Advocacy 

Chepkowa is just one example of community empowerment. Across the three counties, Haki Mashinani identified 30 human rights concerns and resolved 20—a 67% success rate. Over 100,000 people were reached through forums, mentorship, and digital campaigns, resulting in improvements in health, sanitation, and infrastructure. The initiative also built the capacity of 35 human rights defenders and established structured organisations with financial systems and advocacy tools. 

Inclusive engagement was central. Through sports dialogues, art expos, and community forums, over 109,000 people engaged with governance issues—including 644 women and 34 persons with disabilities. These platforms fostered dialogue, built trust with officials, and created safe spaces for advocacy. In Siaya, community committees pursued electricity access. In Kericho, youth-led forums elevated efforts to demand environmental justice. 

Strong partnerships underpinned the success. Local CBOs brought community trust. With EU support, the Haki Ni Yetu project offered technical guidance, resources, and influence. 

“Partnerships are the backbone of sustainable advocacy. Each partner brings unique strengths that, together, drive real change,” said Ken Ogembo and added: 

“EU support gave credibility to youth-led advocacy. It ensured that local voices were not just heard—they were respected.”  

Sustaining Youth-Led Accountability 

The Chepkowa experience is now a model for youth-led accountability. It showed that when young people are equipped with tools and support, they can revive stalled projects and reshape governance. Moving forward, youth must be involved from the start of development planning, and local advocacy committees must continue to hold leaders accountable. 

Haki Mashinani’s legacy goes beyond numbers. It sparked empowered communities and sustainable advocacy models. The platforms and networks developed through the project will continue to amplify the voices of youth, women, and marginalised groups. 

Haki Mashinani proved that when communities are trusted and equipped, they do not merely participate—they lead. 

 

Siasa Place received funding through the 1st open call of the Rights, Governance and Accountability Grants (Large Grants) of the Haki Ni Yetu project and implemented the project from August 2024 to August 2025. The Haki Ni Yetu project is funded by the EU Delegation to Kenya. You can learn more about the project here: https://wordpress-1175544-6194269.cloudwaysapps.com/en/haki-ni-yetu/

 

This Impact Story is part of a project funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the KIOS Foundation & The Haki Ni Yetu project and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

The Haki Ni Yetu project is implemented by the KIOS Foundation together with two Kenyan civil society organisations, InformAction and CSO Network.