Afrika is the Coordinator of the Kisumu Feminists Society (KFS), an initiative geared towards empowering women in Kenya with a focus on the women in Kisumu. Looking back, her current role began to manifest at age ten. An avid reader of Global Children’s Magazine – a publication distributed in her primary school – Afrika was stimulated by the stories she would read. Children as young as she in the continent were addressing issues such as the recruitment of child soldiers in DRC and the stigmatization of those with HIV & Aids around the continent.
In her own neighborhood, Afrika began to see clearly the violence against women and girls and how there were rarely any interjections because the common belief was that issues in other people’s homes were theirs to deal with alone. But these crimes and silent pleas for help was all she saw. She was motivated to move away from the silence that was expected of her to openly discuss issues that were otherwise considered taboo – especially for a girl from Nyalendo.
Her work into active feminism began much later, when she started attending meetings in Kisumu targeted at women. The discussions were wholesome and empowering, and gave Afrika the push she needed to begin her own initiative. In early 2019 there had been a surge in the number of cases reported on women being killed by their partners (referred to as femicide), and by March, there were 35 reported cases highlighted by the media. Afrika set out to start a women’s march on Women’s Day on March 8th and mobilized feminists in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Busia to participate. From this, she created a platform in Kisumu specifically for those interested in women’s rights which she called Kisumu Feminists Society (KFS). It was a two year long dream and there was no better time to set it up.
KFS began with 20 members, holding forums once every month and encouraging attendees to bring a new friend each time. A year later and the team has grown to 70 members.
Then came the pandemic that flipped the world’s idea of normalcy. People everywhere were made redundant, including Kisumu. Inspired by initiatives in Mombasa and Nairobi that were exhibiting radical community care, Afrika was inspired to do something in Kisumu within her capacity. And since there had been no organization coming out to support those less fortunate, despite their call for help in acquiring essential items, she turned to KFS’s ethos.
The outcome was the creation of a donation drive. The KFS team led by Afrika made a poster and shared it on various social media pages towards the end of March encouraging people to give what they were able to. In the first week, a few small pledges came in but didn’t receive the traction she hoped for and so she had to create a contingency plan. Afrika reached out to a friend with a large social media following hoping that this time, the message would reach more people. This turned out to be a good call because almost immediately, well-wishers sent monetary donations, making pledges and offering to support. The KFS team got to work from the 1st of April, and completed their first batch of donations in Kisumu on April 8th.
The Kisumu Feminist Society is currently appealing for a second batch of donations as well as volunteers to help in the distribution of items they receive. They also urge anyone to inform them on women and children in Kisumu who may be in need of food. Queries on donation sites and distribution locations can be directed to Dorothy of KFS – 0721 749 807 or to Afrika on her Facebook page, Nyar Afrika.
We applaud these young people for their commitment to service, and encourage you to support them in the work they are doing.
