Kenyan youths have always found creative ways to express their opinions. They use various forms and styles, from memes that leverage social media to art expressed through music, poetry, and more. This has always been their way of speaking out. They know how to advocate for themselves and have even developed their own slang to voice their grievances. Today, the popular phrase is “Niko Kadi.”

I have attended demonstrations in Kenya for much of my artistic life, but two stand out most vividly. The demonstrations in June 2024 and 2025 saw young people from all walks of life rise up to fight for justice. Tear gas was deployed, some police used live ammunition, people were injured, and some even lost their lives. It was a tragic time for Kenya. These protests were not only a powerful statement against corruption and mismanagement of the country’s resources but also a crucial moment that highlighted the urgent need for the nation to handle human life with greater care and respect.

Now, returning to Niko Kadi, this is a clear call for young people to step up and register as voters so their voices can be heard. What began as a movement started by a young man has now grown into a nationwide project. With politicians and corporate entities joining the trend, it highlights the incredible power of young people—let’s call them Gen Z—and the influence of social media. Seeing young people rise to the occasion warms our hearts because this is exactly what we have been advocating for since founding this organization. We launched similar projects and knowing that we have empowered others to empower even more is truly meaning

We have always championed the education and empowerment of youth, particularly those living in informal settlements. These communities face significant challenges due to their vulnerabilities and high unemployment rates. To address this, we launched the Movie Kibanda Project, where we visited informal movie theatres to share uplifting and positive messages with our community. Our project harnesses the power of art for social impact, with storytelling playing a central role. We have collaborated with various talented artists, including spoken word poets, to effectively convey our message. Below are some links to projects we have previously undertaken. https://youtu.be/41ecgVaiKLw?si=JzXSNtgWczWr7nhS