A five-year programme that sought to amplify the voices of young people in Kenya’s fight against harmful practices is coming to an end, leaving behind a trail of successes in policy reform, grassroots activism and youth leadership.
The Power to You(th) project, led by Amref Health Africa in Kenya alongside partners such as NAYA Kenya, Tunaweza Empowerment Organisation, Wanawake Wavuvi, Siaya Muungano Network and Naret Intoyie CBO, was launched in 2020 and has been implemented in Migori, Kajiado, Homa Bay and Siaya counties. It is part of a seven-country initiative supported by an international consortium including Rutgers and Sonke Gender Justice.
The programme focused on adolescent girls and young women, aiming to reduce female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence in some of the country’s most affected regions.
In Migori County, youth organisations say the project has transformed the way young people engage with decision-makers. “When we started, youth were barely included in governance processes. Participation was tokenistic, often through a single representative,” said Vincent Mwita of Tunaweza Empowerment Organisation. “Today, young people sit in technical working groups, they challenge duty bearers directly, and some have even contested for leadership positions.”
He added that the most striking change has been in the fight against cross-border FGM, long prevalent in Kuria communities at the Kenya–Tanzania border. “With active technical working groups led by the County Commissioner and state actors, cases have significantly declined. Youth are no longer bystanders—they are champions taking real action to end FGM.”
