Friends of River Ezava-Forezava

On a day when social media timelines are flooded with memories, emotions, debates, and reflections marking two years since the June 25th, 2024 protests in Kenya, many young people are finding themselves drawn into conversations about the country's past, present, and future. Yet in Shiru, Vihiga County, one young woman is spending her day differently. While many are engaged in national discourse, Mariam Muhatia Luyali is focused on something she believes is equally important—showing up consistently for her community, her faith, and her personal growth. When we asked Mariam what her plans for the day were, her response was simple and direct. "I will be attending to my salon business and later in the evening I will join fellow young people at church for our Youth Week program." No grand declarations. No dramatic statements. Just the steady commitment of a young leader who understands that change is often built through daily action rather than occasional noise. For Mariam, le...

 A Monday Inspiration Reflection on Opportunity, Leadership and Breaking Invisible Chains On 20th June 2026, more than seventy African and Caribbean leaders gathered in Accra, Ghana, to continue a conversation that has echoed across generations: reparations for colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. It was a significant gathering, discussing some of the deepest injustices ever imposed on humanity. On that same day, thousands of kilometers away, I found myself involved in what many would consider a far less important activity in rural Vihiga County. A school football match. Yet as I watched Mbale Boys High School battle their way to the Western Regional Finals, I could not help but see a connection between these seemingly unrelated events. Both were ultimately about opportunity. Both were about what happens when people are allowed to dream beyond the limits that others have set for them. Both were about challenging what I call the "Thou Shall Not" system. The Unwritten...

 In many villages across Vihiga County, leadership often begins long before one occupies a public office. It starts in classrooms, community meetings, student gatherings, and in the quiet decision to serve others before oneself. For Brenda Odondi , a young woman from Wodanga Ward in Sabatia Constituency, leadership has never been about titles. It has always been about responsibility, service, and creating opportunities for fellow young people. Currently pursuing a course in Information Technology, Brenda represents a new generation of leaders who understand that the future will be shaped not only by technology but also by the people who are willing to use it to solve community challenges. Growing up in Wodanga, Brenda witnessed the immense potential that exists among young people. She also saw the barriers that often prevent youth from fully participating in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. Rather than accepting these challenges as permanent realities, sh...