Paukwa? Pakawa!
Paukwa is a place dedicated to positive stories about Kenya. Our story house is named for the Swahili word that is an invitation to a story – Paukwa. It’s an age- old term, well known across East Africa. Paukwa invites one to remember the joy of stories from their childhood days and to get lost in new, familiar or unknown ideas about the daily things that surround us.
Each day ordinary Kenyans are pushing our nation forward. As volunteers, as SME owners, as creatives, teachers, farmers, counsellors, techwizards and more. There is a bigger story as they build our nation each day through their tenacity, hard work, positive attitude, search for excellence, and sheer hustle.
Through their efforts we all grow.
At Paukwa, we shine a spotlight on the everyday builders of our nation and the history we almost forgot.
This digital storybank celebrates memory, culture, modernity, but most of all, the positive. Dive in and discover a story of Kenya you didn’t know you never knew!
#KeRites
Since time immemorial, Africans have marked different stages of life through rites. A rite is defined as a social custom, ceremony or ritual. The ascendance of an individual into a new phase in life has been a communal affair, celebrated by all, and has provided the person with a clear definition of who they are and what is expected of them. We are taking a closer look at the

Remember the story of...
Remember the story of...
Our Common Carbohydrate
Whether we’re pairing it with a tasty wet-fry, mayai-kitunguu-nyanya, or traditional vegetables cooked with cream, we love our ugali. So ingrained has this food become in our culture, that most do not realize that it has only been part of the Kenyan diet for a few hundred years. Maize landed on the continent at around 1500 A.D., but before that Africans farmed sorghum, millet, and other small grains which needed...
Our audio stories
A note from our team
THE POWER OF STORIES
At Team Paukwa, we never tire of celebrating the power of stories. It is the very essence of our mission and the fuel that drives our work. We firmly believe in the transformative impact of storytelling for social change. Moreover, we take great joy in spotlighting the creatives who are actively reshaping the narrative of Kenya through their storytelling prowess. These individuals are catalysts for change, weaving tales that challenge stereotypes, elevate unheard voices, and ignite conversations that matter. We're excited to delve into our treasure trove of stories—our vault—that showcases their journeys and contributions. From budding writers to seasoned filmmakers, each story reflects the profound impact of storytelling in driving positive change. Eager to learn more? Check out the stories that Kenyan creatives have produced in #KeFilms, #KePodcasts and #KeReads.
TEAM PAUKWA
A note from our team
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!
We love food, and who doesn’t? It’s an indispensable element of our lives. Food fuels our health and wellbeing and transcends dietary realms. But it is so much more than that. It is also a defining element of our heritage, deeply ingrained in our culture. By simply looking at what’s on our plates, how we’ve cooked it, and digging deeper into the intricacies of who eats what, it is possible for someone to tell who we are. As such, food is a key part of our identity. This manifests itself in many ways. In the different locations our communities inhabit, you will find varying types of produce, and with it, different methods the harvest undergoes from farm to table. Regardless of these differences, food always brings us together. In the farm, as we gather by the fire around a sizzling pot of stew, or at the table. In this uniting spirit, we welcome you to a celebration of food and its production processes through #VyakulaVyetu and #StreetFoodKenya
TEAM PAUKWA
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