16 days of activism Year 2025

This week we are in the 16 days of activism week - which runs from Nov 25 to December 10 - in between are significant days for women

Nov 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Dec 1 - World AIDs Day

Dec 3 - International Day for PWD - Persons with disability

Dec 10 - Human Rights Day

The theme for 2025 is apt  - Unite to End Digital violence against all women and girls

This is our reality now - violence against women has infiltered the digital space and spreads like wildfire - we need to keep informed, keep speaking up and equipping each other especially the girls to be confident and not let digital bullies have their way!

Anyways...16 days has fond memories for me

In September 1998, I stepped into COVAW having never heard the words Womens rights, Human rights, UDHR,  let alone a whole campaign called 16 days of Activism! We received initial funding from CIDA and went into full gear planning for the 16 days including marking 50yrs of UDHR - Universal Declaration of Human Rights

How things have changed! Like we used to send invitations via fax to all media houses and agencies - and needed interns/volunteers to do this. Am sure someone here will wonder what a fax machine is!

The logistics for the events was something else - we made lots of IEC materials - posters, banners, leaflets, tshirts - and since donor funds came so late, we did this at the very last minute. We had a vendor who was used by many agencies to do T-shirts (he used to actually stitch them and print the message) and at one time he mixed the order and so the COVAW tshirts that were sent to Taita Taveta had on message for another agency at the back!! weuhh

How would I have done it differently? since we know we shall mark the campaign, prequalify suppliers and be ready just to issue the order once funds are received; avoid the last minute dash.

The designs for the IEC materials were just from us..and this used to amaze me since I didnt think that an idea I have can actually be translated and placed on a campaign item. So we used to have images of women being down and a man over them to show violence against women - and one Board member came and said we need to show women in better light! That was the design of a strong woman holding the womans sign! Loved it...and this lesson i have carried with me...everytime my view is needed on IEC, I remember, keep it positive!

What a ride!

Now the campaign is run by government, just the way it should be!

Keep safe in this digital space :)

A Legend has rested

 Oct 15 2025 will forever in the hearts and minds of Kenyans

The Man

The Legend

The Enigma

Raila Amolo Odinga, has rested

In a far away place in India, RAO suffered a heart attack and met his end

His remains were brought into Kenya on Thursday Oct 16 morning

KQ, in his honor, renamed the flight to RAO001 (who is cutting onions!!)

Kenyans were visibily & collectively devastated

A sea of people escorted him to Kasarani Stadium for public viewing, the entire 32km from airport  to stadium was filled with chants and song, I think he would have loved that

His last borne daughter Winnie hang on to his favourite white fedora hat and symbolically handed it over to her mother, Mama Ida - oh the image!!

Where do we go from here, they say when a Mugumo tree falls, the birds scatter!!

Love him or hate him, the man for sure did his part

May we not scatter ohhhhhh

we need to be brave enough to say goodbye

and look forward for a new dawn

Eternal rest grant to Baba Oh Lord

and may perpetual light shine upon him

Rest in power Agwambo (the mysterious one)!

Rest in power Jakom (the chairman)!

Rest in power Tinga (the tractor)!

Rest in power RAO!

Your voice will echo forever! 

Concert things....international guest..wow!!

 Saturday Aug 30 rolled in and I was super excited!

The one and only Cece Winans was gonna be in town and the venue was Uhuru gardens. From the great drone shots on Instagram we saw many red chairs and actually ASSUMED all the tickets will have seating. Turns out these days concerts don't have seats for the last category....did we know??? Nope!!

so we reached venue early at 4pm and lo and behold....yes....no seats!!

This really dampened my mood! I felt so conned....but as people came in they laid out their maasai shukas, popped up their umbrellas...they seemed to know!! The sun was still up from 4pm to 6.30pm so we were in the sun all this time ai ai ai...had to keep my bandana against my face to keep from the sunburn........very uncomfortable...

There was a couple about 70yrs...and they were also in the no-seats section - and I was like, organisers should afford to have special seats for senior citizens ama?

Anyways, 7.45pm Cece Winans came in and my mood lifted kabisa!

The concert was grand...just 90 minutes...we were in the front line just behind the barrier (see paparzzi shot above) ...and sang along in full volume! the stage was magical with lighting giving all the necessary effects to wow us..... one of the songs was done so beautifully and i didn't know the song....we were sure it was a new song...we checked you tube and the song was released 11months ago!!!! weuhhhh...He is Worthy is the name of the song....check it out!

Last time I saw Cece Winans was in 2010 when she came to Kenya, and the event was at Bomas at Kenya...which was a perfect venue, since its auditorium style, so we were all seated and all could have excellent view of the stage.... 

Next time I go for a concert, I need to be prepared to pay for top tier tickets

Else, I left there fully blessed by the experience :)

World Humanitarian Day Aug 19 2025

 Aug 19 - Is World Humanitarian day - and it was started in 2008 to honour humanitarian workers and promote awareness of the humanitarian efforts globally.

The theme for 2025 is Strengthening Global Solidarity & Empowering Local Communities

I started working in development sector in late 1998 - yes its been a minute! The theme for this year is indeed apt - empowerment begins from the micro level...that's is where change has to happen!

I checked my albums, and here are some pictures

This is me with colleague when working with Cordaid,  at Lake Paradise in Marsabit National Park. This was around 2005 and was my very first visit to Marsabit. We had supported disaster risk reduction projects in Marsabit county and this was a monitoring mission

This is me in Samburu - receiving a beautiful necklace from the women - who exclaimed how thick my neck was! oh well....hehehehehe

This is me with my colleague in Dukale Moyale ...am holding a beautiful container that is used to store milk - called Gorfa (correct me if thats not the right name!). If i remember right, this place was nested between hills and the community was not able to access clean water - the project was a water pan for them to capture rain - very scenic place

In Oloitoktok...with a womens group

in Lodwar - promoting local enterprises

Means of transport :)

Back in 2005 the roads to Northern Kenya were very bad....when I see these highways now 20years later, am like...its about time!! Access to everything is important for growth....and this was a long time coming

I love and enjoy what I do - we get hit once in a while (like the big one done by Trump admin, weuhh) but we do what we do  because we see the evidence of change at community level!

Salute to all the humanitarian workers! Especially those who live with the communities they serve.... the work is challenging, but rewarding....

You make a difference...receive your flowers :)

Road trips!

 I love road trips..especially those that the trip is within my control and we can move at a good pace! 

No rush to get somewhere...just enjoying the ride!

we have done several trips with this red car....Kisumu mostly, Nakuru alot and of course Machakos 

This one is of me going to Kakuma from Lodwar airstrip - it was just me and the driver and when i saw the backdrop of the mountains, I was like, stop stop...lets take a photo here!

This was somewhere in Lukenya..wide open spaces!

This was in sweltering Jordan...weuhh

Of course one has to stop at the Equator line and take a pic!!

The best part about road trips is the endless conversations and banter! am here for it!

Heres to more road trips this year!

10 year challenge

So facebook reminded me of this photo (the lower photo) taken June 2015 and being me, I immediately got a current one from my gallery and put them side by side

Pap.. reviving the #10YearChallenge!

In 2015 I was in this Landcruiser car, cruising on the rough road headed to Maralal. This was my life then, at least 5 days in a month I would either be in Marsabit, Moyale, Isiolo, Maralal....heck even Mandera or Oloitokok!

I always wonder if I can do this as a 50year old...maybe not...seating in a car whole day to cover 800km from Nairobi to Moyale will definitely take a toll on me!

Life, make the most of it when you can!

8 Hikes by July!

 I looked back at my photos and voila, I have actually done 8 walks as at July - so like one per month  - that's very good Hilda!, well done well done :)

Karura 4 Jan - this was a great way to kick start the year - was a nice early morning walk before the January sun gets out

Enpaashe Kajiado 11 Jan - this was an eerie walk on unchartered terrain! 

Oloolua 25 Jan - this was a lovely walk with work colleagues, we challenged ourselves to do one walk per month as we gear towards Longonot in November!

The plan was 5km but we ended up doing 10km and I had the wrong shoes!! NFF

Karura 22 Feb - this was also part of challenge with work colleagues! we were late to Karura and so the unforgiving sun met us there! weuhh - but the 10km was worth the heat!

Nairobi Women's Day Walk March 8 - this was 3rd walk with work colleagues and met up with my sis! the 14km was grueling 

Mater heart run May 23 - Loved this walk - normally just 10km...been doing it since 2009 or thereabouts!

Express way run July 6  - another constant walk for me...though this is the second time I did it - did the 10km - maybe aim for 21km next time? we will see...Uhuru park has so many lovely spots for photos :)

Bypass 19km walk on July 12 - this one I almost gave up...weuhh

heres to many more!!