Kenya’s young girls and women are seeking to move beyond being beneficiaries of development programmes to becoming active participants in shaping policies, communities and decisions that determine their future.
More than 120 adolescent girls and young women from across the country made the call during Polycom Girls’ 6th Annual Girls Assembly held in Nairobi under the theme “Unleashing Authentic Feminine Leadership.”
The Assembly brought together young women, policymakers, women leaders, development partners and women’s rights advocates to discuss leadership, participation and challenges affecting girls and women.
Among the issues discussed were ending violence against women and girls, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, climate justice, water, sanitation and hygiene, women’s economic rights, Women, Peace and Security, male allyship and girls’ participation in decision-making.
With Kenya heading towards the 2027 General Election, participants also highlighted the need to create safe and meaningful spaces for young women to engage in governance and public decision-making.
Polycom Girls Founder and Executive Director Jane Anyango said the organisation is focused on equipping girls with leadership skills while encouraging them to take part in governance and political processes.
“Young people cannot be discussed in their absence,” Anyango said.
She stressed the importance of ensuring young women remain engaged when entering political and civic spaces, including during challenging electoral periods.
The Assembly also placed emphasis on a different approach to leadership, one that values listening and diverse perspectives.
Henk Jan Bakker, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, urged emerging leaders to remain open to opinions that differ from their own.
“A good leader is open to other opinions and other voices,” Bakker said.
He also noted that although development partners can provide resources and support, sustainable development ultimately depends on ownership by communities and governments.
For Polycom Girls Programs Officer Aphline Yogo, the Assembly was intended to give girls a platform to generate and advance their own solutions.
“Girls are pitching their ideas and we want them to be realized,” Yogo said.
Florence Syevuo, Executive Director of the SDGs Kenya Forum, said development discussions must reflect the everyday experiences of girls, including menstrual health and hygiene, safe environments and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
“We cannot do development from a place of what we know. We must include the girls as we seek answers to their problems,” Syevuo said.
Over the past five years, the Annual Girls Assembly has connected more than 1,000 young women with mentors, policymakers, women leaders, donors and development partners.
The 7th Assembly is expected to place greater emphasis on peace and social cohesion, as Polycom Girls seeks to strengthen the role of girls and young women in building peaceful and inclusive communities ahead of the 2027 elections.
