Our History

The story of Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi! began with a journey across the country, a journey to listen.

Between 2009 and 2010, John Githongo travelled across Kenya for 18 months to understand the pulse of the nation from the perspective of its citizens. The insights from that nationwide listening tour culminated in the report From Madharau to Heshima, launched in April 2010. It became the philosophical foundation upon which Inuka Kenya was built, a call to move from contempt to dignity, and from despair to collective action.

From the very beginning, Inuka’s work was rooted in solidarity with grassroots communities. In 2009, the organisation stood alongside the Lamu Environment Protection and Conservation Group (LEPAC) in the Save the Lamu Archipelago campaign, an early testament to its commitment to defending community rights and environmental justice.

In 2010, Inuka partnered with Sauti Ya Wanawake in Lamu, strengthening its advocacy for women’s rights, education, and health. This collaboration marked one of Inuka’s first steps in amplifying women’s voices and building local capacity for change.

As Kenya approached the 2013 General Elections, Inuka focused on civic education and participation. Through the Elimu ya Ugatuzi programme (2011–2012), the organisation prepared citizens to engage meaningfully in both elections and the new structures of devolution.

In 2012, the Peace Through Prosperity (PTP) initiative brought together youth across Nairobi to promote peace and livelihoods through organised Youth Chapters. Over 700 chapters were formed — a powerful youth-led movement for governance, social development, and prosperity.

That same year, Inuka launched Sauti Yetu, a civic engagement platform that has since reached nearly half a million people across 74 wards in six counties — Nakuru, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kericho, Kakamega, and Garissa. Sauti Yetu became a vital space for citizens to voice their concerns, demand accountability, and engage directly with governance processes.

Ahead of the 2013 elections, Inuka’s Uongozi Initiative reached more than seven million Kenyans with a values-based leadership campaign — challenging citizens to demand integrity and vision from those seeking public office.

Between 2012 and 2016, Inuka deepened its digital engagement by training youth networks, including Lang’ata Youth Network, Harambee Toto Initiative, Kibagare Associates Youth Organisation, and Mukuru Youth Initiative, in digital storytelling and online advocacy.

In 2013, Maskani Ya Taifa was born, an innovative online-offline platform that turned public dialogue into civic action. By 2022, Maskani Conversations had spread across nine counties, from Nairobi and Kisumu to Mombasa and Garissa, giving citizens new spaces to set the national agenda.

In 2015, Inuka began working alongside The Kenya Values Trust (KVT) to advance values-based education. One of KVT’s flagship projects, Glory Values School in Butere, embodies this commitment to nurturing integrity and civic consciousness from the ground up.

In 2016, Inuka launched the Kesho Initiative, inviting Kenyans to reimagine their society through reflection, dialogue, and knowledge creation. Its flagship platform, The Elephant, has grown into a vibrant intellectual space with a monthly readership of over 50,000 across more than 170 countries. By 2018, Kesho Initiative had expanded to include The E-Review, Uongozi Lab, and Elephant.edu — broadening Inuka’s reach in civic thought and public discourse.

By 2018, movement building had become central to Inuka’s mission. The organisation served as a fiscal host and backbone for citizen-led coalitions such as the Kenya Tuitakayo Movement (KTM) and Kongamano la Mageuzi, while also supporting regional movements like Twenze2 in Tanzania.

In 2021, Inuka unveiled the Transformative Agenda for Kenya 2021–2050 — a long-term framework for reimagining the country’s governance and civic culture through dignity, justice, and shared humanity.

A year later, in 2022, Inuka inaugurated the East Africa Wellness Hub, a pioneering initiative dedicated to the wellness and resilience of civic actors across the region. It provides spaces for healing, reflection, and restoration — recognizing that those who fight for justice also need care.

Over the years, Inuka has forged strong partnerships and alliances across Kenya and beyond, working with movements, networks, and organizations, including Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ), Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu (KYSY), The Devolution Forum, Haki Madini Kenya, Code for Africa, Africa Uncensored, The Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF), and Okoa Uchumi Initiative, among many others.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 ushered in a new era of adaptability. Inuka seamlessly transitioned into a hybrid working model — blending digital and physical approaches to sustain its advocacy, learning, and collaboration. The lessons from this period continue to shape Inuka’s culture of innovation and resilience today.