Friends of River Ezava-Forezava

Some people wait for change to arrive. Others, like Mercy Kasaya, roll up their sleeves and go find it in the trenches of their own community. Meet Mercy—a fiery Political Science graduate from Maseno University who isn’t just studying leadership from textbooks. She’s living it. Breathing it. Fighting for it. And she’s doing it all at the grassroots level, one conversation, one sanitary pad, and one rescued dream at a time. The "What" – Rewriting the Rules of Advocacy Mercy doesn’t wait for a title to lead. Her office is the community. Her tools? Empathy, education, and relentless action. Here’s what she’s doing right now to shake things up: For the Boys:   Mercy is on a mission to pull young men back from the edge. She runs hard-hitting mentorship sessions focused on one thing: breaking the grip of drug and substance abuse. She teaches discipline, resilience, and purpose-driven living—giving boys a roadmap away from addiction and toward a future they can be proud of. For th...

There’s a hashtag that’s been bouncing around our timelines for the past month. Tuko Kadi. It sounds bold. It sounds ready. It sounds like we, the youth of Kenya, have finally woken up. But after a long conversation with the very people on the ground—the IEBC youth agents sacrificing their time, their shoes, and their dignity to get us registered—I’m no longer sure what “Tuko Kadi” really means. Because the truth? It might just be a vibe. And a vibe doesn’t vote. Online, we’re generals. We retweet the civic education graphics. We quote “siasa ni namba.” We scream about bad leadership, unemployment, and the high cost of living. The algorithm loves us. But offline? I sat with five IEBC youth agents working 12-hour days under a makeshift tent. No transport reimbursement. No lunch allowance. No sign of the “enhanced program” funds they were promised weeks ago. Yet they still walk door-to-door, sweating in the sun, pleading with young people to just take five minutes and register. And what ...

In Luanda South Ward and beyond, one name continues to stand out among youth-driven transformation- FRANCIS OGONJI, the Chairperson; YOUNGESTARS S.H.G. His leadership is not defined by titles, but by action, belief, and a relentless drive to empower others. Francis leads with a powerful mantra: "Just because you don't know how it's done doesn't mean it can't be done." This belief has shaped his journey and inspired many young people to break limits, challenge uncertainty, and pursue opportunities with courage. To him, possibility is not reserved for the privileged—it belongs to everyone willing to try. At the core of Francis’s leadership philosophy is a deep commitment to Human Resource Empowerment. He strongly believes that if young people are empowered to become productive, they hold the key to solving the country’s biggest challenges. Rather than waiting for large-scale structural change, Francis focuses on transforming individuals—because, in his words, ch...

In Vihiga County, many youth-led initiatives begin with energy but struggle to translate participation into sustained economic or environmental impact. Flevy Saisi is part of a growing cohort of young leaders working to change that trajectory—by grounding community action in structure, accountability, and practical enterprise. Raised and educated in rural Vihiga, Flevy understands the constraints that shape opportunity for young people: limited access to capital, fragmented support systems, and increasing climate pressure on agriculture-based livelihoods. Rather than move away from these realities, she chose to build within them. After earning a degree in Statistics from Kisii University, she returned to Elianzuki village with a perspective that is still uncommon in many grassroots spaces—one that prioritizes measurable outcomes alongside community engagement. As Chairperson of Epitome Youth Self-Help Group (SHG), Flevy has guided a transition from informal youth activity to more struc...

In a time when many young leaders choose comfort over confrontation, Prof. Walter Gideyi has built his leadership identity on something different — truth, structure, and relentless grassroots engagement. Born in Wodanga Ward, Vihiga County , Walter’s journey into leadership did not begin in boardrooms or political circles. It started where most real leaders are shaped — in student spaces. From Student Representative to Movement Builder Walter first emerged as an active student representative at Kisii University , where he quickly distinguished himself as a mobilizer and organizer. His leadership trajectory saw him rise to the position of Student President at: Sabatia Students Network (SacosNet) – up to 2025 Vihiga Students Network (VisNet) – currently serving What stands out is not just the titles, but what he has chosen to do with them. At VisNet, Walter is working toward organizing what could become a historic first — a peaceful and structured transfer of leadership by the end o...

At dawn along the shores of Lake Victoria, fishermen push their boats into the water while farmers prepare fields that depend on the lake’s rainfall and river systems. The lake sustains millions of livelihoods across western Kenya and the wider East African region. It feeds families, drives local economies, and anchors entire communities. It is within this delicate ecological and economic landscape that Kenya is now considering building its first nuclear power plant in Siaya County. The proposed project, estimated to cost about KSh 500 billion , has been framed as a bold step toward securing Kenya’s long-term energy future. But for many communities living around the lake, the proposal also raises an important question of energy justice: who bears the risks, who gains the benefits, and whether the region’s own natural resources could provide a different path toward development. These are not questions of ideology or resistance to progress. They are questions of planning, priorities, an...

The first two months of the year have been about more than just planning; they’ve been about building the very foundation for our work over the next quarter of a century. You may have noticed a shift in our activity, and we’re excited to finally share the infrastructure we’ve been developing to bring our long-term vision to life. At the heart of this is a belief that a 25-year vision isn't something you achieve alone. It’s a legacy you build with an entire generation. To do that, we need to empower people with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to contribute. Here’s a look at the key platforms we’ve launched to make that happen. Launching Our Digital Ecosystem We are thrilled to introduce the first of our new digital platforms, designed to connect, educate, and empower. - The Opportunities Hub: We’ve gone live with our opportunities platform at eHub.forezava.org. This is a central space to share opportunities from both within our organization and from our wider network. Our go...