Sikiliza

This year, we celebrated 62 years of independence from the British colonial regime on June 1 , a day we affectionately know as Madaraka Day. I had the pleasure of spending a delightful weekend in the breathtaking Lake Basin region of Kenya, where I reconnected with cherished old friends. The experience stirred a wave of reflection and nostalgia within me. Dunga Beach Kisumu County As I gazed at Kenya's stunning landscapes, I couldn't help but feel that they hold the secrets, whispers, and timeless tales of our ancient history. From the majestic heights of the mountains to the serene expanses of the lakes, every corner seemed to echo larger-than-life legends and profound life lessons that have shaped our culture. I came to realize that our rich heritage is not merely preserved in the dusty archives of museums or buried in historical texts. Rather, it vibrantly thrives in the fabric of our daily lives, intricately woven into the lively tapestry of oral traditions, captivating loc...

For the past decade, my professional compass has relentlessly pointed to one crucial question: As social justice advocates, how do we fuse the fire of activism along with the gentle balm of well-being ?  I have journeyed alongside incredible feminist organizations, witnessing their powerful efforts to connect the grand visions of transformative social change with the gritty, everyday strategies needed to strengthen our movements.  Consistently, self and collective care emerged as an essential ingredient—the very lifeblood that sustains us, especially when so many within our movements, and those we fiercely champion, carry deep, inherited wounds into this work. I have learned that even with our strong desire to challenge injustice and address the profound harm it causes, finding skillful ways to do so without inadvertently creating further pain within our own movements can be challenging. We know we need to disrupt the status quo, but how do we do that without accidentally draw...

In Kenya, the image of a small-scale farmer and those in its vast value chain are often painted with a narrow, often derogatory brush: impoverished, ignorant, and working the land as a last resort – a path taken only when more ‘valued’ professions like doctors, lawyers, or engineers remain out of reach. This deeply ingrained stereotype reflects a fundamental disconnect in how we measure progress and success as Kenyans. Often, we inadvertently dismiss hardworking, enterprising wananchi who, frankly, form the backbone of our economy; they operate within the informal sector and, critically, attend to our food security. This contradiction is further deepened by what I believe is a colonial conditioning that views a lack of formal education as inherently lacking and the deliberate devaluing of indigenous knowledge passed down through generations, leaving us illiterate and unknowing. We forget that it is the traditional knowledge that many Kenyan farmers possess and skillfully apply to feed ...

In a world that spins ever faster, where convenience often trumps connection and efficiency can overshadow empathy, we find ourselves navigating a landscape increasingly dominated by the digital. Change, as they say, is the only constant, and while much of it propels us forward, there are certain threads of humanity that feel perilously close to fraying, perhaps even breaking.  This isn't a call to reject progress entirely, but rather a gentle, perhaps slightly ginger, plea to pause and reconsider what we might be losing along the way – specifically, the beautiful, tangible, and deeply personal art of heart-to-hand communication. Think about how we mark moments now. A loved one's birthday pops up on a digital calendar, a friendly nudge from our phones. Our response? Perhaps a quick tap, selecting a pre-designed digital card, adding a flurry of emojis – stars, digital glitter, a virtual cake – and hitting send. 'Happy Birthday!' flashes across the screen, and just like t...

Held Captive By an Illusion of Separation We live in a world often defined by separation. Humankind sets itself apart from the living world, nature is seen as an infinite resource mindlessly consumed and exploited, and ‘progress’ is measured in limiting, linear, and rigid ways. This dominant narrative, born mainly from Western imperialist worldviews, places humankind on a lonely pedestal, fostering a dangerous illusion of dominion over the intricate web of life. It is a perspective that has configured the world order and, unfortunately, brought about immense ecological devastation, erasure, loss and a profound sense of exile from ourselves and the world around us. An Indigenous Feminist Counter-Narrative But across the globe, from Africa to the territories of the Mesoamerican, there is much wisdom to be gained from Indigenous voices, particularly feminist siblings whose efforts are rooted in ancient traditions and who offer a powerful counternarrative to the status quo. They remind us...