NAME: PURITY WANJIRU WAIHENYA
EMAIL: loyawaihenya@yahoo.com
PREFERED NAME: LOYA WAIHENYA
GROUP: NAIENVIRONS- MINORITY WOMEN IN ACTION (MWA)
REGION: KENYA, AFRICA.
LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS:
Millicent Odhiambo achiengmillicent35@gmail.com 727952793
Carlistle Nyambura gacchahi@gmail.com 708849673
Loya Purity Waihenya loyawaihenya@yahoo.com 254713427357
Quenter Abur akothabur96@gmail.com 254769200047
Moureen Akinyi moureenakinyi93@gmail.com 254113292920
Alexis Kariuki alexiskariuki2157@gmail.com 254723106393
Getrude kuya getrudekuya87@gmail.com 254726358613
Esther Mwende esthermwende546@gmail.com 254715292983
Wambui Mwai bobotones1@gmail.com 254708010429
George Macharia georgegmacharia@gmail.com 254715666786
Faith gakenia faithshilla123@gmail.com 254742737041
Angella Mayeye mayeyeangella3@gmail.com 745786461
Shantel otieno shantelotieno29@gmail.com 701621845
Diana Mushiyi dianamushiyi@gmail.com 720804210
Florence Wangari Maina. marleendyna@gmail.com 718167368
Njanja Mutugi lovessing34@gmail.com 792363610
Scott Shaka Mwangi scottshakamwangi@gmail.com 254704326658
Diana Mwongeli Nguvi dimsysylvia@gmail.com 719129822
Lucy Wangari Kihara lucykihara1405@gmail.com 707141097
Caroline Njeri muturi. muturicarole@gmail.com
Winnie Oketch (Winketch) Winketch@gmail.com 726489921
Assignment #1: Power & Movement Ecology
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PERSIAN:
Movement Building Series - 2025
Assignment #1: Power & Movement Ecology
ENGLISH:
PLEASE MAKE A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT INTO YOUR OWN DOCUMENT TO
COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT. DO NOT REQUEST TO EDIT.
Hello dearly beloved,
Glad you’re doing this assignment! Please upload your assignment here when you’re ready.
(When uploading you can indicate the names of other members of the group who contributed to
completing the assignment.)
1. What is it that your group is seeking to change or what problem are you seeking to address?
Minority Women in Action (MWA) is a Kenyan organization that primarily focuses on advocating
for the rights and well-being of lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women in Kenya. The key
issues they seek to address include:
1. Legal and Social Discrimination – LBQ women in Kenya face systemic discrimination,
including lack of legal recognition, stigma, and exclusion from mainstream feminist and
LGBTQ+ movements. MWA works to advocate for equal rights and protection under the law.
2. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) – Many queer women experience corrective rape, domestic
violence, and other forms of gender-based violence, often without access to justice due to
discrimination by law enforcement and society. MWA provides support and advocacy for
survivors.
3. Healthcare Disparities – LBQ women often face barriers in accessing sexual and
reproductive health services, including discrimination from healthcare providers. MWA
works to promote inclusive healthcare policies and services.
4. Economic Empowerment – Due to stigma, many queer women struggle with employment
and financial independence. MWA provides economic empowerment programs, skills
training, and advocacy for equal opportunities in the workplace.
5. Safe Spaces and Mental Health Support – Many LBQ women suffer from mental health
issues due to rejection, discrimination, and violence. MWA creates safe spaces, support
groups, and counseling services for those affected.
6. Political and Civic Engagement – MWA works to increase the visibility and participation of
LBQ women in political and civic spaces, advocating for policies that support gender and
sexual minorities.
2. After discussing with your group, write out your theory of change based on what was discussed
in the session:
If we do (X) then (Y) would happen, because (Z)
For example, “If we organize community members to have a regular visible presence that gets
media attention at the electric company headquarters calling out specific failures, this will
embarrass the electric company and they will be motivated to address the issues because they
don’t want to look bad in the media as the mayor and regulators will take note and raise
questions.”
If we mobilize LGBTQI communities to demand justice through public actions, engage decision-
makers to implement protective policies, create spaces for healing and empowerment, and build
independent support systems for safety and economic stability, then LGBTQI persons will gain full
autonomy over their lives and bodies, enjoy equal legal protection, and be free from discrimination
and violence, because sustained public pressure, institutional change, individual empowerment, and
community-driven solutions together create both immediate impact and long-term systemic
transformation.
What type of theory of change is this, based on what was discussed in the session?
Our current programming focuses on these four theories of change:
1.Personal transformation
We focus on empowering our members through capacity-building initiatives and training
programs to enhance their skills, confidence, and leadership.
2.Inside game/Institutional Advocacy
We engage with policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders to advocate for policies and systems
that protect and promote the rights of LBQ women.
3.Mass protests
We have been involved in organising and participating in mass protests including femicide ke.
Protests in Kenya which were aimed at fighting for end to femicide cases in Kenya among the most
affected are LBQ women.
4. Alternatives
Recognizing the discrimination and stigma faced by LBQ women in mainstream healthcare settings,
we have established accessible and queer-friendly SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights) clinics to provide inclusive and affirming care.
We have also provided and collaborated with an organisation called CAC which is a queer led and
affirming church to queer persons.
3. How does your organization relate to other groups across the movement ecosystem that have
other theories of change (for example, is there a coordinating council? Are there informal
meetings? Is there division, lack of communication)? What do you think is effective or
ineffective?
Minority Womyn in Action (MWA) actively collaborates with various organizations within the
movement ecosystem to advance the rights of lesbian, bisexual, queer women, and gender non-
conforming individuals in Kenya. As a member of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya
(GALCK), MWA engages in coordinated efforts with other member organizations to address
shared challenges and advocate for policy reforms.
Additionally, MWA maintains partnerships with international organizations such as
Womankind Worldwide, which supports women's movements globally. Through these
collaborations, MWA contributes to a broader network advocating for women's rights and
inclusivity.
MWA also works with other civil society organizations e.g NGLHRC-National Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission (for legal aid), CAC-Cosmopolitan Affirming Church
(providing inclusive faith support for the community), UHAI-EASHRI (financial support),
WAWA-ABA(leadership training), Femicide KE(mass protests). These interactions help in
sharing strategies, aligning objectives, and addressing emerging issues collectively.
Effective aspects of these relationships include the pooling of resources, shared advocacy
platforms, and collective strategizing, which amplify the impact of individual organizations.
However, challenges such as occasional overlaps in initiatives and differences in organizational
priorities have lead to inefficiencies within our work. Continuous communication and clearly
defined roles have been critical toward mitigating these challenges and enhancing collaborative
effectiveness.
