The commemoration of 28 years of Muungano wa Wanavijiji took place on 6th December 2024 in Mathare at St Teresa Catholic Church, marking a significant milestone in the movement's journey towards community empowerment and development. The event brought together over 1000 participants, ranging from community members, stakeholders, and partners to reflect on the movement's achievements, challenges, and future direction. The landmark event brought together community members and stakeholders from various informal settlements across Kenya. The attendees were community members from various informal settlements from different cities including Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa, Machakos, Kwale, Kilifi Kitui, and Naivasha.
Youth are often the first responders to climate and social challenges in their communities. The festival spotlighted the incredible contributions of young people in informal settlements, showcasing their role as change-makers in their communities. This is especially true for Muungano Wa Wanavijiji Youth, who play a crucial role in disseminating vital information, advocacy, research, championing climate action, leading grass root initiatives, and mobilizing community members in their settlements. Living in informal settlements where land, housing, and service-related issues are deeply intertwined with climate vulnerability means that when disasters like floods strike, they are hit the hardest. Homes are swept away, health crises emerge, and entire communities are left struggling to recover.
One of the key discussions revolved around the challenges and opportunities facing young people today. With unemployment, inadequate housing, and limited political influence still affecting urban youth, the festival was a platform for young leaders to share their experiences and advocate for meaningful change. Their voices echoed throughout the event, emphasizing that youth are not just beneficiaries of development but active agents driving it forward.
A highlight of the festival was the exhibition space, where youth-led initiatives showcased their work. From climate action projects addressing the impact of floods and evictions to creative arts and storytelling as tools for advocacy, young people demonstrated innovative ways to tackle urban challenges.
We had a panel discussion featuring inspiring young leaders who are actively shaping their communities. Faith from Mathare, one of the speakers, emphasized the importance of social media in amplifying youth voices and mobilizing for action. Felix from Mathare 4A called for stronger youth collaboration in responding to urban crises, while Esther from Naivasha urged for more youth inclusion in decision-making processes at all levels.
ART , CULTURE, YOUTH EXPRESSION
Beyond discussions, what made the Muungano Wa Wanavijiji Festival 2024 a success was the entertainment by different youth groups from urban informal settlements. With the support of the One World Together Solidarity Fund, which champions grassroots youth-led initiatives through flexible, long-term funding, we were able to support 60 youth from four different groups in Mathare, Mukuru, Huruma, and Kibera to participate in the festival.
The One World Together Solidarity Fund recognizes that youth in informal settlements often lack the financial resources and institutional backing to fully engage in civic and cultural spaces. Supporting the youth amplifies their voices and strengthens their ability to organize and sustain their creative and advocacy efforts beyond one-off events. The participation of these young artists in the festival was a powerful demonstration of how inclusive funding can promote meaningful representation and engagement in urban development conversations.
The young performers energized the crowd with spoken word, poetry, music, and dance, as the audience danced along with them. They brought their energy and demonstrated that art is indeed a powerful tool for storytelling and advocacy. These performances reflected the realities of life in informal settlements while also fostering a sense of pride and unity among participants.
The Muungano Festival reinforced the need to integrate youth perspectives into policy and governance. It was a call to action for stakeholders to actively engage young people in shaping solutions for housing, employment, and climate resilience. The commitment to youth inclusion was further solidified through the announcement of funding opportunities for community-led initiatives, ensuring that young people continue to drive transformation in their communities.
As the event came to a close, there was a renewed commitment to nurturing youth leadership and strengthening collaboration. Looking ahead, Muungano Wa Wanavijiji is set to expand its efforts in supporting young people, ensuring they have the resources and platforms to lead the change they envision.
The future of informal settlements belongs to the youth, and through unity, innovation, and action, they are rising together to build stronger, more resilient communities.
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