FALSE: Photo does not show the drought situation in Embolioi, Kajiado County, in October 2022
Admin 
The Association of Grassroot Journalists Kenya (AGJK), in partnership with Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT), held a follow-up meeting at Ghetto Foundation Mathare to advance discussions around the Nairobi People’s Manifesto and peaceful, inclusive participation in the 2027 General Elections.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Social Justice Centers Working Group, community organizations, grassroots journalists, and community media stakeholders to discuss how communities can shape an agenda that reflects their lived realities, priorities, needs, and aspirations.
The discussions were informed by a reflection on the Mukuru People’s Manifesto, which demonstrated the importance of communities coming together to identify and articulate their own priorities and development aspirations. The experience from Mukuru brought forth the need for a broader Nairobi People’s Manifesto that can capture the diverse voices, concerns, and aspirations of communities across the city.
Participants focused on developing a clear roadmap for the formulation and implementation of the Nairobi People’s Manifesto, while identifying key areas of collaboration, community priorities, and strategies for strengthening citizen participation, access to information, accountability, and peaceful civic engagement.
Ruben FM was recognized as a key stakeholder in this process, particularly given its role as a community radio station serving Mukuru and surrounding communities. Through grassroots journalism, public-interest programming, community dialogue, and amplifying residents’ voices, community media can play an important role in ensuring that the Nairobi People’s Manifesto reflects issues emerging directly from communities.
As Nairobi continues to grow and evolve, grassroots voices must remain at the center of conversations about the city’s future. The experience of the Mukuru People’s Manifesto provides an important foundation for strengthening a city-wide process where communities can identify their priorities, engage decision-makers, access reliable information, and participate peacefully and meaningfully in democratic processes.
The Nairobi People’s Manifesto therefore provides an opportunity to build on community-led initiatives such as Mukuru’s and create a more inclusive platform through which Nairobi residents can collectively articulate the city they want to see.
