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!
#KeDiaspora
As Kenyans, we take pride in our flag, our area code, but more importantly, in the fact that, when we resolve to work hard – we bear much fruit. There are Kenyans living beyond our borders who have chosen to make the most of their time in different organizations, and industries, around the world. Their time away from home has not been in vain; they have soared to
Remember the story of...
Remember the story of...
Our Story Collections
Our Story CollectionsHere you will find different story collections we have curated over the years. Dive in to know about our Paukwa People, Paukwa Places and our Kenyan Heritage and Pride[vc_gallery el_id="gallery-148198" type="carousel" random="yes" medias="27755,27754,27753,27752,27751,27750,27748,27747,27745,27736,27737,27738,27739,27740,27741,27742,27743,27744,27735,27733,27732,27731,27730,27729,27725,27724,27721,27720,27717,27716,27715,27714,27713,27712,27710,27698,27699,27700,27702,27704,27706,27707,27708,27709,27697" carousel_lg="1" carousel_md="1" carousel_sm="1" gutter_size="3" media_items="media|lightbox|original"...
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
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
Our newsletters
(swipe to scroll, tap to open newsletter)











