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!
#KeSymbols
When we think of who we are as a nation and as people, it all leads back to a time before we emerged victorious against colonial oppression. We earned our freedom, and the days leading up to the 12th of December 1963 were some of the best days in our land. Every year around this time, we hold the word Jamhuri close to our hearts and minds. Through
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!
#KeWildlife
For World Wildlife Day in 2019, we ran a story series based on Kenya’s incredible wildlife. Along the way, it has become apparent that there is a myriad of species in Kenya’s ecosystem. Even more so, there are those animals that rule the animal kingdom. Their reputations precede them. Their histories are so poignant that many now occupy the displays and podiums of museums across the world, showcasing their ferocity for the world
Remember the story of...
Henry Wanyoike: Our World Record Holding Paralympic
Henry Wanyoike’s athletic star shone from way back when he was a teenager. He was considered one of the fastest in his hometown of Kikuyu as he would outrun his school mates on their three miles journey to and from school and win races regularly in secondary school competitions. This was the beginning of Wanyoike’s training. As time went by, he entertained the possibility of running becoming something more. His...
Our audio stories
A note from our team
LUGHA ZETU
Languages are the vibrant threads that weave together the tapestry of human existence. They are the essence of communication, connecting individuals and communities, while also serving as the key to preserving culture, heritage, and knowledge. African languages have long been underappreciated and overshadowed by colonial ones. However, times are changing, and with increasing efforts to promote cultural diversity and inclusivity, they are finally gaining the recognition they truly deserve. Kiswahili, in particular, has emerged as a leading example of this linguistic renaissance. At Paukwa, we have long been champions of different facts of Kenyan culture. Through #KeProverbs and #MisemoYetu we celebrate the rich diversity of our linguistic heritage.
TEAM PAUKWA
A note from our team
CELEBRATING THE EARTH
We only get one home, or one planet to call home. The idea of the existential threat of climate change often feels too heavy or distant to contemplate, but if we are indeed to be the stewards who keep our shared home viable for us all, that’s exactly what we need to do – contemplate, then act! Thankfully there are many everyday champions who do act – as stewards, as changemakers, as earth warriors and we are happy to have shared their stories in our collection #OurGreenHeroes. Through their actions we all are a bit closer to keeping this shared home of ours safe for all who inhabit it. We urge you to do your “little thing” like Wangari Maathai – reduce your plastic use, plant a tree, teach a child about environmental action because as Margaret Mead once said, “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”.
TEAM PAUKWA
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