PTD Kenya Applauds ActionAid Kenya’s Transformative Impact in Makueni County

A Decade of Impact: Celebrating the Kathonzweni Local Rights Programme (LRP)

PTD Kenya joined ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK), members of MACSON (Makueni County Social Network), and community representatives for a reflective and inspiring session on the End-Term Evaluation of the Kathonzweni Local Rights Programme (LRP).

The event, hosted at Kilimani Breeze Hotel, brought together partners, grassroots leaders, and civil society actors to review over a decade of community transformation driven by ActionAid’s Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA).

Launched in 2013 and set to phase out in 2026, the Kathonzweni LRP has become a beacon of empowerment, touching over 4,500 households across Makueni County through women-led initiatives, youth inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.

Empowering Communities, Changing Lives

Through ActionAid’s partnerships with local organizations — the Kathonzweni Women Movement (KWM), Kathonzweni Citizen Development SHG (KACIDE), and Kanthuni Kithuki and Kanzokea (KAKIKA) Joint Farmers’ Cooperative — the program has achieved remarkable milestones:

a) Women’s Leadership: Over five women trained through ActionAid programs were elected into key political positions in 2022, including the Deputy Governor and Members of Parliament.
b) Gender Equality & Safety: Reported cases of wife battering dropped by 15%, while child abuse against girls reduced by 21%, thanks to community-led GBV awareness and legal support systems.
c) Education Access: Thousands of girls benefited from menstrual hygiene support, school-based mentorship, and improved WASH facilities — reducing absenteeism and early dropouts.
d) Economic Empowerment: Women and youth gained access to Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), skills training, and small enterprise opportunities that enhanced household resilience.
e) Climate Action: Communities adopted agroecology, kitchen gardening, and drought-resilient farming — building a model for locally led climate adaptation.

PTD Kenya’s Call for Collaboration and Synergy

Representing civil society from Makueni and across Kenya, PTD Kenya commended ActionAid International Kenya for its inclusive, participatory, and people-centered approach to development.

“This program demonstrates the true power of community ownership. ActionAid’s model has shown that when people are placed at the center of development, progress becomes unstoppable. We at PTD Kenya celebrate this impact and call upon all partners — government, NGOs, and the private sector — to sustain and scale these gains,”
— PTD Kenya Spokesperson

PTD Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen synergy and policy coordination among stakeholders to ensure that the successes of the Kathonzweni LRP are not only celebrated but also replicated across other counties.

The organization also emphasized the importance of embedding community structures such as women’s groups, youth networks, and paralegal associations into county development frameworks to guarantee long-term sustainability.

Building Forward Together

The meeting was a space for deep reflection — acknowledging the challenges of poverty, gender-based violence, drought, and unemployment — but also celebrating the resilience of Makueni’s communities.

As ActionAid prepares for the final phase of the LRP, PTD Kenya reiterated its readiness to collaborate in advancing shared goals in:

Women’s rights and leadership
Good governance and civic participation
Climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods
Youth empowerment and economic inclusion

Together, these partnerships represent the future of inclusive, locally driven development that leaves no one behind.

A Shared Vision for Lasting Change

The LRP’s story is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, civil society, and government unite around a common purpose — dignity, equity, and justice for all.

PTD Kenya celebrates ActionAid’s legacy in Makueni and calls for continued collaboration, funding, and synergy building to amplify the voices of women, youth, and vulnerable communities across Kenya.

“Sustainability begins with partnership. Let us continue walking this journey together — building stronger movements, resilient communities, and a just society for all.”