The Elders Podcast

Discover Njeri Kabeberi's epic journey—from a 1992 hunger strike with mothers of political prisoners together with the legendary Wangari Maathai - to leading Greenpeace Africa. This Kenyan human rights defender survived Moi-era repression, post-election death threats, and built democracy through Amnesty International and the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy. Hear her pivot to environmental and...

Join Professor Wanjiku Kabira on the Elders Podcast as she shares her journey in Kenyan women's rights and gender equality. Drawing from her expertise in literature and oral traditions, Prof. reveals how she challenged colonial and patriarchal narratives on marginalized African women. Learn about her pivotal role in Kenya's constitutional reform, where women's organizations secured aff...

On this episode of the Elders Podcast, the veteran social worker and community organizer, Mrs. Mereso Agina joins us to discusses her forty-year career in community development and women’s empowerment in Kenya. She talks about the legacy of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO), a women's movement that started in 1952. Her story journeys through her life – transitioning into community development work,...

On this episode of the Elders Podcast, the veteran social worker and community organizer, Mrs. Mereso Agina joins us to discusses her forty-year career in community development and women’s empowerment in Kenya. She talks about the legacy of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO), a women's movement that started in 1952. Her story journeys through her life – transitioning into community development work,...

Join Monica Mutuku as she shares inspiring insights into KCDF's transformative initiatives across Kenya. From innovative education programs and community empowerment projects to sustainable development strategies that uplift lives, discover how KCDF fosters lasting change, builds resilience, and creates brighter futures for families and youth. Hear real stories of impact, collaboration, and in...

Join Shariffa Keshavjee as she shares her inspiring journey with the Kenya Girl Guides Association. From joining the Brownies in 1957 to co-founding the Hawkers Market Girls Center. Discover how this century-old movement empowers young women through life skills, health education, digital literacy, and community service. Learn about impactful partnerships with the Aga Khan Foundation and Rotary Int...

Join host Wairu Kinyori as the Elders Podcast panel tackles "Kenya's Healthcare Crisis," featuring public finance expert Dr. Abraham Rugo and health systems specialist Dr. Anne Musuva. They analyze the health system's evolution, noting that donor funding has sharply declined to 16-18% of total expenditure. The discussion covers the critical impact of recent aid cuts, which led to...

The Makonde, who reside in the coastal region of Kenya, arrived from Mozambique in the 1920s to provide labor on plantations. They were rendered classically stateless because Kenya's 1963 independence constitution focused citizenship articulation around established ethnic communities, which the Makonde were not. This powerlessness meant thousands of people couldn't get IDs, open bank accou...

In this insightful episode of the Elders Podcast, we sit down with Esther Muiru, founder emerita of Groots Kenya, a pivotal grassroots women's rights movement that unites women across Kenya to enhance their lives. Esther provides a deep dive into the inception of the women's rights movement in Kenya, focusing particularly on the monumental 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference and its lasting im...

Welcome to the Elders Podcast! In this insightful episode, we sit down with Ezra Mbogori, an elder in the social development and international development aid sector, who brings over 40 years of experience to the conversation. Ezra shares his compelling life story and unpacks the complex legislative journey of civil society in Kenya, moving from the restrictive NGO Coordination Act all the way to...

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF OVERSEES DEVELOPMENT AID.