VOICE – Ajenda Yetu: Non-Violent Advocacy Capacity Training for Youth and Governance Advocates in Siaya County

P4T successfully conducted a five-day Non-Violent Advocacy Capacity Training (NVCT) from 27th to 31st July 2026 in Ugunja, Siaya County, under the VOICE – Ajenda Yetu project. The training brought together 26 participants (15 male, 11 female) comprising youth leaders, women advocates, representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and local accountability actors.

The training was designed to equip governance advocates with practical knowledge and skills to drive citizen-led accountability, peaceful advocacy, and structured engagement with duty bearers at the county and sub-county levels.

Training Focus Areas

Over the course of the week, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering:

1. Governance and Citizen Participation – Understanding structures, rights, and mechanisms for civic engagement

2. Community Mobilization – Strategies for rallying citizens around shared priorities

3. Conflict Analysis – Tools for identifying, understanding, and addressing community tensions

4. Issue-Based Politics – Shifting advocacy from personality-driven to policy-driven engagement

5. Non-Violent Advocacy – Principles, tactics, and best practices for peaceful civic action

6. Coalition Building – Strengthening collective voice through strategic partnerships

7. Citizen Manifesto Development – Laying the foundation for a community-driven Siaya County Citizen Manifesto

Key Outcomes

The training yielded significant and measurable outcomes:

Increased Knowledge & Skills: Participants demonstrated enhanced understanding and practical competence in non-violent advocacy, governance accountability, and community mobilization.

Initiation of the Citizen Manifesto: Participants began the process of developing a Siaya County Citizen Manifesto — a community-owned document that will articulate citizen priorities and serve as a reference framework for engagements with duty bearers and stakeholders.

Enhanced Commitment to Evidence-Based Advocacy: Participants expressed a strengthened resolve to engage duty bearers using data, research, and structured advocacy approaches.

Action Plans Developed: Each participant developed an individual workplan, while collaborative constituency/sub-county action plans were created to guide the implementation of advocacy initiatives, duty bearer engagements, and community priority identification processes.

Looking Ahead

The NVCT training marks a foundational milestone in the VOICE – Ajenda Yetu project's mission to strengthen citizen participation and accountability in Siaya County. In the coming weeks and months, trained advocates will:

Implement their constituency and sub-county action plans

Engage relevant duty bearers on identified citizen concerns

Facilitate community dialogues to identify and prioritize local issues

Continue developing and refining the Siaya County Citizen Manifesto

Build coalitions for sustained, non-violent advocacy

Pamoja remains committed to walking alongside these advocates as they champion the rights and priorities of their communities.

This activity was implemented under the VOICE – Ajenda Yetu project by Pamoja.