At just 19, Kerry Mwita is no ordinary teenager. While his peers are struggling to find their way, Kerry is already reshaping his community and challenging entrenched injustices.
His commitment to the underprivileged comes at a time femicide is ravaging Kenya, denying innocent souls, young and old, their right to life.
From a likely marginalised village in Kuria, Kerry’s work is deeply rooted in his home county of Migori, where rates of gender-based violence (GBV) exceed the national average.
He has spearheaded petitions, community trainings and protests that have led to significant milestones, including the campaign for a Gender Justice Court in Migori.
"My passion to make a positive impact and my belief in the power of my voice drove me to initiate and lead campaigns to address these issues and advocate for justice and equality."
Kerry’s petition to Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in 2024 marked a breakthrough in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through institutional reform.
As vice president of the Safe Engage Foundation, a community-based organisation, Kerry isn’t afraid to raise opposing viewpoints at board meetings and passionately advocate for bold initiatives to combat GBV and harmful cultures, proving that age is no barrier to leadership.
Through initiatives such as the Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) Plan (2023-2033) and the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy (2023-2030), he is working towards a vision of a more just and equitable society.
Kerry holds several key positions: he is a fellow in Women Deliver’s Emerging Leaders for Change programme, a fellow in ForumCiv’s NextGen Leadership Academy, a youth advocate with the Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa (NAYA), focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and an advocacy champion with the Nguvu Collective.
“I could not remain a bystander in the face of such challenges. My passion to make a positive impact and my belief in the power of my voice drove me to initiate and lead campaigns to address these issues and advocate for justice and equality.”
His efforts have been recognised as he is a finalist for the Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year 2024 by Defenders Coalition Kenya and the Africans Rising Activist of the Year Award 2024. He also received the African Art for Advocacy Award 2023 from Youth Power Hub and Y-ACT Kenya and was the first runner-up in the National Essay and Video Competition Award 2022 from Unicef Kenya and The Standard Group PLC.
As a second year law student at Mount Kenya University, balancing his studies with his activism has not been without its challenges. But Kerry’s commitment shines through as he juggles responsibilities, relies on a strong support network and practises self-care.
His mission is clear: to break the cycle of oppression that has silenced too many voices for long.
-Linet Owoko