Amplifying the Unheard voices of people with disabilities in governance and participation in community affairs.

Africa Center for Nonviolence and Sustainable Impact- AfriNov is a peace-building and nonviolence training and advocacy organization based in Kenya working with grassroots groups and communities. Through the support of local and international development partners. AfriNOV has been carrying out community activities that improves and transforms the lives of people in some targeted communities.

AfriNOV’s theory of change has the assumption that once a community has the skills and knowledge to challenge injustices, they gain agency and voice to advocate for self through challenging the prevailing powerful groups of people in leadership and service delivery.The locally formed and led organization uses the Turning the Tide program approach which is a nonviolence training and advocacy approach that introduces Kenyan grassroots groups and organizations to nonviolent approaches for social action in challenging social, political and economic injustices by engaging those in power from the grass root level through nonviolent campaigns.

The approach gives skills for social accountability which empower citizens and community-based organizations to identify social injustices rooted in structural systems and respond using non-violent approaches. They also equip communities to hold their governments accountable for the promises they make by improving dialogue and relationships between communities, service providers, and governments.

In Kenya, the constitution 2010 has laid a solid foundation for political participation and representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). However, the battle for an inclusive society is yet to be won. There are documented reports of high exclusion of PWDs in the areas of political representation in elective and appointed positions, with limited efforts by political parties to provide a conducive environment for persons with disabilities to engage in politics. Civil society organization continue to remain vigilant to the fact that there’s so much work to be done in this quest for inclusivity of persons with disabilities.

The initiative to work with PWDs is part of the quest to increase inclusivity and diversity in the society for a better tomorrow. Increased awareness on their disability rights and entitlements resulting in seeking for services from the government and local institutions has been AfriNov’s’ objective.

Building the capacity of PWDs grass-root groups has enabled them to successfully facilitate community engagement tackling social injustices of representation, equitable resource distribution, access affirmative action funds etc In the run up to the 2022 elections AfriNOV supported groups to be trained on civic education. Some of the groups
conducted leaders vetting exercises which gave them an opportunity to interrogate their leaders on strategies put in place in their manifestos to enhance inclusion of PWDs in governance.

Increased involvement in local democracy and political participation of individuals and community groups:

There is reported increase in number of PWDs who participated in peaceful and transparent electoral processes through enhanced voter participation and inclusion in the 2022 general elections. Members from AfriNov affiliated groups ran for political positions and some applied for nomination at political party level.