Friends of River Ezava-Forezava

A few days ago, my friend Lucky Nyabera Mwale hit me up with one of those wild-but-worth-it ideas. He had a bone to pick—rightfully so—about how our community work at Forezava , especially around youth and sports, seemed to always favor the kids who could run fast or kick hard . And honestly? He had a point. A Bit of Background... As a kid, sports were my escape. Mostly soccer, and for good reason. You see, I had this diminutive body structure —a polite way of saying I was that tiny kid who got pushed over, ignored, or just outright sidelined. But on the pitch? On the pitch, I could speak. I could throw meaning into a game . It was the one space I felt like myself. If life had aligned a little differently—say, if I had someone to buy me boots or a proper ball—I’d probably be gearing up for my 4th or 5th AFCON appearance with the Harambee Stars . But hey, who’s counting? Now Fast Forward to Yesterday… Lucky—yes, the same passionate guy who now works with kids at Magadi Primary Sc...

In recent weeks, the streets of Kenya have echoed with a bold, youthful cry: “We are awake, and we will be heard.” The Gen Z-led protests are not just another wave of political noise. They represent something deeper—a fracture in the very foundation of our nation’s social contract. The outcry we are witnessing is not simply about bad laws or questionable leadership decisions. It is about a generation pushed to the edge by a broken system— a system that no longer serves the people it was built for. Let’s be clear: This is not a moment that needs political solutions. It is a crisis demanding the complete refabrication of our socio-economic systems . The Symptoms of a Cracking Republic We’ve seen the warning signs across multiple platforms—newspapers, social media, town hall conversations: Peaceful protests met with brutality: Young people demanding inclusion and accountability have been met with bullets, batons, and bloodshed. The daylight murder of protesters has sent a chil...

In June 2025, I had the chance to attend the Youth4Innovation Workshop during the Innovate4Climate Summit in Sevilla, Spain . It brought together youth leaders, private sector experts, and innovators from across the world — all focused on building real solutions around jobs, climate resilience, and investment. We came from 17 countries , and even though our backgrounds were different, our goals were the same: to make sure young people have the tools and opportunities to shape a better future. A Moment That Stood Out During the summit, I had a powerful conversation with Valerie Hickey , the Global Director of the Climate Change Group at the World Bank . I mentioned plainly: “We can’t talk about climate innovation and jobs without matching it with real resources for young people. If we don’t act, we’re heading toward a global gap of over 1.1 billion jobs in the next five years.” She agreed that we need to ask stronger questions and focus on ideas that investors and institutions can t...

In the spirit of our now viral blog “ Ukisimama Mtasema… ” , Forezava is proud to announce the next bold step in redefining leadership in Vihiga County—and Kenya at large. We’re launching a dedicated youth spotlight blog series titled: "Tell Your Story Juu – Ukisimama, Tuko Na Wewe!" This series will profile young, visionary, and community-rooted leaders aged between 18 and 40 years from across Vihiga County. If you are an aspiring leader —politically or socially—this is your moment. Why We’re Doing This For far too long, youthful ambition has been silenced by outdated narratives and broken systems. At Forezava, we believe the power to lead is already within our generation —we just need platforms that see us, hear us, and elevate us. This blog isn’t just a story dump. It’s a movement . A movement of fresh voices , clean ideas , and bold leadership . A space where authenticity meets opportunity . What We’re Looking For We want to feature young people who dare to ...

“Nikisimama mtasema sina bibi…” “Nikisimama mtasema sina pesa…” “Nikisimama mtasema mimi ni mtoto…” These phrases have become common justifications for avoiding leadership among Kenyan youth. But behind them lies a deeper fear—one planted by decades of exclusion, corruption, and generational betrayal. There is a growing concern among young people in this country—and it is real. Our current political class has lost touch with the aspirations, needs, and voice of a younger generation. We are the majority, yet treated like a minority in governance decisions. Studies project a global jobs gap for over 1 billion youth if things continue the same way. In Kenya, the signs are already here—skyrocketing unemployment, rising cost of living, and policy decisions that serve the elite few while sidelining millions. Let’s talk facts: The County Government of Vihiga recently proposed to spend Ksh. 3.8 million on a county anthem. Yes, an anthem. This, despite constitutional articles 185 a...

Earlier this week, global news broke that China has discovered one of the largest gold ore deposits in its history. Found in the Shandong Province, the deposit is being described as “supergiant” and is estimated to hold over 50 tonnes of gold. You can read the full article here . Now, this might seem far removed from our small villages here in Vihiga County. But it isn’t. In fact, it raises a very serious question about what is happening right here, in our backyards. Chinese-Backed Mining in Our Villages In recent months, several Chinese-backed companies have quietly set up small-scale mining operations across our region. These operations claim to be mining gold—but their activities tell a different story. Rather than supporting our local artisanal miners and cooperatives, these companies often take over entire mining zones. They extract huge quantities of ore and carry it away—unprocessed and unverified. None of the minerals are tested or refined here in Kenya. Everything is shipp...

In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, when silence haunted classrooms and hope seemed scattered in the wind, I found myself drawn—pulled, even—towards something humbler, yet profoundly powerful: the soil. As a teacher in a rural community, the pandemic hit hard. Schools were closed. My students, without access to digital learning, were left in academic limbo. I felt disoriented and disconnected—like a voice without a platform. Yet, amidst that stillness, there was a quiet calling. The earth beneath my feet, the trees around my village, and the scattered seeds I began collecting whispered a different kind of lesson: start where you are, do what you can. The photo above captures that moment in time. A crate of seeds, collected from around my village, balanced on my shoulder. I was heading to the farm—unsure of what exactly I was building, but confident that it meant something. That act of seed collection and propagation was my way of reimagining education, rethinking resilience, and ...