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!
#KeForests
We refer to them as the lungs of the earth. They purify our air and are important water catchment areas. Not to mention their role as a wildlife habitat and the sheer beauty they give to a place. They are our forests, and their importance cannot be overstated. For this story series, forests are taking center stage and ten of Kenya's forests are featured. From some of their unique
Remember the story of...
Remember the story of...
Cinda Reri
Wamuyu wa Gakuru was a freedom fighter of truly remarkable mettle. Throughout her involvement with the Mau Mau movement, she remained steadfast in championing the participation of women. Through trials and tribulations, her perseverance shone through and saw her through some of the most harrowing battles for independence on Kenyan soil. Her daring decisions, unwavering dedication and whole-hearted resolve for an independent Kenya make her an important historical figure. ...
Our audio stories
A note from our team
THE BEAUTY OF KENYA
Our flag, coat of arms, and national anthem are the symbols of our national unity. Within these symbols lies the story of our nation’s founding, our shared values, and our hope for the future. #KeSymbols takes a closer look at the creative process behind the creation of these unifiers. Have you ever noticed that the Maasai shield features across the board in either visual or lyrical form? There is diversity in every facet of our beautiful nation, from the population’s rich cultural heritage to the vast landscape covered in unique physical features. Not to mention the treasure trove that is our history! #KeSafari is a story journey into these distinctive aspects that make up Kenya, starting off in County 001 and concluding in County 047. Take a journey across Kenya with us via stories or on our Podcast Series.
TEAM PAUKWA
A note from our team
CULTURE AND HERITAGE
One of our favourite things about writing stories at Paukwa is that there’s always something new to learn about Kenya. Sometimes it's through retelling the narratives that we have come to accept, and other times it's just about appreciating the people and the places that make us proud. We’re constantly challenging the norms and asking ourselves how we can celebrate different facets of Kenyan history and culture. Through our #OnlyInKenya story series, we learnt that one of the reasons that Kenyan communities told stories was to explain the unexplainable. Take the Crying Stone for instance, Ikhongo Murwi. The Luhya community has a story that explains why it cries from time to time. Creativity at its best, we’d say. And that’s just one of many incredible stories from Western Kenya. There are more of those in Paukwa’s repository which have been specially curated to spotlight trailblazers, hidden gems, and creations that hail from this region.
TEAM PAUKWA
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