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'NtarisaAngeline'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 MukiteTop: during a workshop exercise

Right: in Lira, Uganda during her regional placement

Everlyne'MukiteEverlyne'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 IlanyiLeft: during a gender based violence awareness campaign in Migori

Right: picking her CBO certificate at the Migori county offices

Mercy'IlanyiMercy'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'NainiLeft:(makes(a(presentation(during(a(fellowship(workshop(he(hosted(in(KajiadoRight:(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'NjihiaJohn'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.'HeHe'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