Polycom Girls, a Pan-African feminist, women-led organization based in Kenya, successfully hosted the 5th Edition of the Girls Assembly on Friday, 25th July 2025 in Nairobi under the powerful theme: “Legacy in Motion: Her Voice, Her Power, Our Future.”
The two-day annual flagship event has grown into a transformative platform where adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) lead conversations on gender equality, social justice, leadership, and innovation.
Having served Kenyan girls for over 20 years—particularly in informal settlements—Polycom Girls (formerly Polycom Development Project) continues to pioneerinterventions that elevate the voices of girls and dismantle the socio-economicbarriers they face.
This year’s Assembly brought together girls from Kibera, Homabay, Kajiado, Nairobi’sinformal settlements, and universities across the country. Through storytelling, art,urban carnivals, innovation challenges, and intergenerational dialogues, the eventempowered girls to imagine and create a just future.
Why This Assembly Matters
Despite notable progress in Kenya’s gender agenda, girls in schools remain vulnerable to grooming, sexual exploitation, and exclusion from decision-making spaces. Early pregnancies, violence, and lack of meaningful engagement continue tothreaten their futures.
Hon. Millie Odhiambo, MP for Suba North noted ,“When you see a 10-year-old pregnant, it means grooming has been happening. Weneed policies on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Events like this are changing livesby giving girls tools and confidence to speak out and lead.”
The Assembly also witnessed growing partnerships, including one with Daraja Letu Foundation. Its founder, Rachelle Ouko, launched a six-month mentorship program for newly elected AGYW leaders and called on CSOs to unite against grooming and violence in informal settlements.
Newly elected She Leads representatives Stacy Akinyi (Nairobi) and Nancy Akinyi Ochieng (Homabay) shared bold visions for leadership centered on climate action, mental health, and entrepreneurship.
The Assembly serves as a national model, an evolving movement that builds a pipeline of confident young women ready to lead.
Polycom Girls is now calling on county governments, CSOs, and educational institutions to replicate and support such spaces to ensure no girl is left behind.