Awakening Curiosity towards Resilient Communities

The Kenyan Government has a long-standing partnership with the EU, which is comprehensive and encompasses the economic, security, political, and social sectors. The model and engagement have changed over the years. However, in the current model, Civil Society Organizations ’ voices are lacking. Meaningful Engagement Transformative Action [META] is a project designed to fill this gap. The  Meaningful Engagement – Transformative Action  (META) is a joint action of the  African Women’s Development and Communication Network  (FEMNET) , the  Coalition for Sustainable Development  (SDGs Kenya Forum), and   Stichting Women Engage for a Common Future International  (WECF) , Netherlands, with support from the  EU Delegation in Kenya . When I represented the  Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network  ( KOWYN ) at the META inception meeting for the  North Rift Economic Bloc  (NOREB), I felt this shift come alive. The gathering brought ...

The 3Rs acronym is not news to many of us in the green transition journey, that is, “reduce, reuse, recycle”. Did you know that they are listed in order of priority? (LOL, me neither until today)  It is argued that the easiest and fastest way to deal with waste is by not creating it in the first place! While this is noble, there is a need to recognize that it might be impossible to minimize plastic production among other non-biodegradable items that cause waste from the start. In that regard, we must find new ways to increase the usefulness of an item.  Do you remember when your parents made you your first DIY toy car ? Do you remember feeling bad that your neighbors had a remote control and yours had a shoelace attached to it because you were the driver [literally?] A DIY toy car made from recycled material: Cooking oil can , bottle caps & used-up pens   The great news is that your household was contributing to a more sustainable future by recycling the plastic ...

As agriculture becomes increasingly influenced by a tripartite tornado of globalization, urbanization & modernization, the quiet wisdom of Indigenous knowledge systems risks being overshadowed. My work with the Ogiek women of the Kwombereriet group reminded me that while our scholarship is stored on 'elite' databases, there is a need to document the knowledge stored in lives, in seeds, tales of old, and the land itself. Fun Fact : Kwombereriet (the name of the women group) is a medicinal tree found in the Mau Forest. It has long been a traditional herb before hospitals and modern medicine. Some shrubs and trees would be mixed with other ingredients to ensure effectiveness while others were prepared and administered plainly. Gogo (respectful title for elderly Ogiek woman)  & I during a workshop under the Seeds of Change Project in Baringo . When I joined the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network, I was struck by how seamlessly the community blends memory, spirituali...

When I first started exploring the concepts surrounding unbanked people and their challenges, I realized that most countries' governments may not be able to fully tackle the existing inequality. With a background in Social Policy, I continue to grapple with the sometimes-contradictory role of social policies as a force for progressively transforming inequalities while still reproducing the very inequalities through a complex interplay of intersecting factors. Previously, I explored the possibility of blockchain technology to solve some of the institutional barriers to financing development . Despite the technological milestones, it continues to be an uphill task to integrate hard-to-fathom, breakthrough technologies such as digital currencies into mainstream economic systems. Later in a 17,500-word thesis, I contended with the hope presented by the private sector through localized individual philanthropy, borrowing from a history of the currency of generosity with philosophies li...