Jali Yetu — Our Care, Our Safety: How Courage and Inclusion Are Transforming Coastal Kenya.
A Quiet Revolution Takes Root
Mombasa, Kenya — The humid air of coastal Kenya carries more than just the scent of spices and the sea; it carries the whispers of change, the quiet hum of a revolution built on care, dignity, and inclusion. For years, the voices of Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) communities in this region have been stifled by stigma and discrimination. But now, a project named “Jali Yetu” (“Our Care” in Swahili) is not just amplifying those voices—it’s rewriting the narrative, one act of compassion and understanding at a time.
Implemented by Pema Kenya with unwavering support from the KIOS Foundation, “Jali Yetu” is more than just a project; it’s a lifeline. Launched in early 2024 across Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta Counties, it embarked on a transformative journey at a time of heightened anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric and rising threats. The project emerged as a vital response, equipping communities with safety tools, transforming institutional perspectives, and reaffirming that every individual deserves to live free from fear.
Three Pillars of Progress: A Foundation for Lasting Change
The project’s success stems from a comprehensive three-pillar approach designed to create systemic and sustainable change:
- Empowering GSM Communities
Through leadership convenings and capacity-building initiatives with Social Justice Centres, GSM communities have strengthened their ability to document and respond to human rights violations. At the heart of this empowerment is Pema Kenya’s Violence Prevention and Response Team (VPRT)—a uniquely structured team that includes diverse representation from LBQ womxn, transgender persons, and gay/bisexual men. This diversity allows survivors to choose which VPRT member they feel most comfortable working with, ensuring culturally sensitive and identity-affirming support.
“Now the police call us if any of our members has been arrested. I feel safer than before,” shares Kelvin, a GSM human rights defender. This simple yet powerful shift illustrates growing trust between duty bearers and the community—a relationship that once felt impossible.
- Transforming Institutions Through Dialogue and Training
Within its first year, “Jali Yetu” trained over 200 stakeholders—including healthcare workers, police officers, religious leaders, legal practitioners, and local administrators—to provide inclusive, respectful, and rights-based services. These structured capacity-building efforts have fundamentally shifted how institutions engage with GSM individuals.
The impact has been tangible across specific locations. In Mombasa, positive treatment in public health facilities has risen, supported by co-created anti-discrimination charters. Police stations in Likoni, Changamwe, Kadzandani, and Bamburi now work collaboratively with the VPRT team, participating in community Barazas and providing more respectful responses to GSM-related cases. In Kilifi, regular dialogues between police and GSM advocates—particularly at Mtwapa and Kilifi police stations—led to a sharp drop in arbitrary arrests. The improved coordination between civil society and state actors now enables faster case follow-up and safer reporting mechanisms.
- Providing Trauma-Informed Support and Legal Redress
“Jali Yetu” enhanced awareness of available digital platforms for reporting human rights violations, including the SARAKA platform and reporting tools used by the VPRTs and SJCs who offer immediate support, while legal partners—including paralegals and pro bono lawyers—provide support on escalated cases requiring expert intervention. County-level human rights offices can use this data for bi-annual reports to drive advocacy and policy reform.
Grassroots Power: The Social Justice Centers Partnership
One of “Jali Yetu’s” most innovative strategies has been its collaboration with Social Justice Centers (SJCs)—community-based organizations that serve as “vigilantes” for human rights at the grassroots level. Founded in response to surges in human rights violations, unemployment, gang violence, and community injustices, SJCs exist across all six coastal counties and work to protect the rights of marginalized community members.
The partnership between Pema Kenya’s VPRT team and the SJCs has created a powerful force multiplier effect. Where Pema’s team has strong relationships with certain police stations or chiefs, they introduce and support SJCs. Where SJCs have already penetrated difficult communities, they create pathways for the VPRT team to operate safely. This collaborative approach includes:
- Mutual referrals: SJCs refer GSM-related cases they cannot safely handle to the VPRT team, while Pema connects SJCs with sensitized police stations and legal resources
- Joint documentation: Both teams maintain occurrence books and contribute to a standardized case documentation system
- Shared training: Pema provides tailored sessions for SJC members to understand the unique needs and security challenges facing GSM persons
- Strategic coverage: Together, they ensure that no area is left without support, combining their networks to reach communities across Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta
The SJCs’ roles include following up cases, providing referrals based on individual needs, mediating community disputes, and identifying areas of social exclusion. Their collaboration with organizations like IPOA (Independent Policing Oversight Authority), Muhuri, and Amnesty International gives them additional leverage in advocating for justice.
This partnership represents a fundamental shift: GSM rights are no longer treated as separate from broader social justice work, but as an integral part of protecting all marginalized community members.
Utu Baraza: Safe Spaces for Difficult Conversations
At the heart of the project’s grassroots transformation lies the Utu Baraza forums—safe dialogue spaces rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and shared humanity. These groundbreaking conversations brought together chiefs, religious leaders, boda boda operators, village elders, youth, and GSM community members to confront misconceptions and reduce stigma.
For many community leaders, this was the first time they had listened directly to GSM experiences without judgment. A local chief, reflecting on his own transformation, shared: “I used to see GSM people as outsiders. But now, I know they are human beings who deserve dignity like anyone else.”
These interactions are not temporary events—they represent lasting mindset shifts that ripple through families, neighborhoods, and entire counties. Faith roundtables promoted tolerance through discussions on justice and compassion. The results have been tangible: reduced harassment, improved access to services, and increased willingness to report violations. Safer communities benefit everyone.
Voices of Change: Stories That Inspire
The true measure of “Jali Yetu’s” success lies in the voices of those it empowers. The project documentary captured the lived realities of GSM persons before and after these interventions, revealing profound transformation:
“Before Jali Yetu, I used to hide when I needed help. Now, I walk into a health clinic and I am treated with dignity and respect and can access services. This is more than privilege, it’s my reality.”
— Darling M., transgender woman and community leader in Mombasa
“The police used to be our fear. Now they call us to check in. That’s Jali Yetu in action—care, not just talk.”
— Ali S., GSM youth peer educator.
A masculine-presenting woman described how interactions with sensitized police are now “more gentle and less harassing… I’m finally being heard.” A transgender youth expressed hope in what was once a hostile environment: “There is at least one person now who will defend me in public. That is change.”
When unheard voices become visible, change becomes inevitable. These testimonies remind us that storytelling is a powerful tool of transformation—one that continues to inspire courage and visibility across coastal Kenya.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Shared Vision
The project’s impact extends beyond individual stories to demonstrate measurable institutional change. More than 350 stakeholders have benefitted from Jali Yetu’s interventions, creating stronger collaboration networks that ensure better follow-up of security threats, faster reporting through frontline responders, and ongoing joint safety coordination.
“KIOS has been more than a donor—a true partner walking with us on this journey,” reflects Ishmael Bahati, Executive Director of Pema Kenya. This partnership approach has created impact structures that will continue well beyond the project period, ensuring sustainability and lasting transformation. The collaboration extends to multiple civil society organizations and oversight bodies, including IPOA, Coastal CSOs, and international organizations like Amnesty International, creating a comprehensive ecosystem of support for GSM rights.
Navigating Challenges: Honest Progress in Complex Terrain
While “Jali Yetu” has achieved remarkable success, the journey has not been without challenges. Acknowledging these obstacles is essential to understanding the project’s resilience and adaptive strategies:
- Police reshuffling remains a persistent challenge. Just as relationships are built with sensitized officers, transfers occur, requiring the team to restart trust-building with new personnel. This disrupts case continuity and sometimes results in less supportive responses until new officers are trained.
- Community hostility and stigma continue to affect both GSM individuals and those who support them. Some SJCs face labeling and discrimination for their association with GSM rights work, making them hesitant to publicly engage with these issues. The fear of being stigmatized by association remains a barrier to broader coalition-building.
- Resource constraints limit the reach and sustainability of interventions. Many SJCs lack adequate funding and human resources to respond effectively to the volume of cases they encounter. This strain is particularly acute when responding to violence with little organizational support.
- Geographic gaps persist in areas where neither Pema’s VPRT team nor local SJCs have established presence, particularly in Mvita sub-county and some inland areas. The lack of GSM representation in certain communities makes it difficult to introduce justice center work without trusted community members to facilitate entry.
- Information and training needs remain ongoing. Many community members, including some within SJCs, still lack comprehensive understanding of GSM issues, limiting their ability to provide appropriate support or challenge discrimination effectively.
Despite these challenges, the project’s adaptive approach—strengthening partnerships, expanding training, and building support systems—ensures continued progress even in the face of setbacks.
Looking Forward: Expanding the Circle of Care
In its second phase, “Jali Yetu” plans to build on these foundations through strategic expansion and deepening of impact:
- Geographic expansion: The project will extend to three inland counties experiencing rising GSM-related violence, applying lessons learned from coastal interventions while adapting to new community contexts.
- Evidence-based advocacy: Using the comprehensive data collected through SARAKA and case documentation systems, the project will pursue targeted advocacy to influence policy at county and national levels.
- Legal protection: A key priority is pushing for county-level non-discrimination laws and policies that specifically address the safety and rights of GSM persons, creating stronger legal frameworks for protection and justice.
- Strengthening the SJC-VPRT partnership: Expanding the network of trained Social Justice Centers and formalizing collaboration protocols to ensure seamless referrals, joint responses, and sustained community presence.
- Standardized systems: Developing uniform protocols for case documentation, rapid response, and follow-up across all partner organizations to improve efficiency and accountability.
The strengthened networks, trained safety responders, and empowered leaders continue to protect and uplift our communities beyond the initial project period. What began as a response to danger has become a celebration of resilience, dignity, and hope.
A Model for Inclusion: A Legacy of Care
“Jali Yetu” has proven that inclusion is not just a dream, but a tangible reality—a powerful, practical, and necessary cornerstone of a just and equitable society. By amplifying voices, building bridges, and championing care as a civic responsibility, Pema Kenya and the KIOS Foundation have laid the foundation for a model that can inspire change far beyond Kenya’s shores.
The project has demonstrated several transformative principles:
- Care is a form of justice, requiring intentional action, resources, and accountability
- Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility, not just the duty of those directly affected
- Collaboration multiplies impact, as the SJC-VPRT partnership proves
- Human dignity cannot be negotiated, regardless of social pressure or cultural norms
- Trust is built through consistent presence and authentic engagement, even when it requires patience and repeated efforts
The ripples of “Jali Yetu” are spreading, carrying with them the promise of a brighter, more accepting future for all. From sensitized police stations to transformed faith leaders, from empowered community vigilantes to confident GSM individuals accessing services without fear—the evidence of change is everywhere.
As one community participant beautifully expressed: “Care is revolutionary when it includes everyone.”
In that simple statement lies the heart of this transformative journey—a journey that continues to blossom with each act of kindness, understanding, and unwavering commitment to inclusion. The future of coastal Kenya is brighter because communities are choosing empathy over fear, collaboration over isolation, and humanity over discrimination.
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Together—fearlessly, proudly, and with love —”Jali Yetu” is proving that everyone deserves to belong.
For more information about the Jali Yetu project, please contact Pema Kenya or visit the KIOS Foundation’s website.
Article written by:
Obwanda Oluoch, Head of Programs, Pema Kenya
