As Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election, salons, barbershops and chama meetings could become unconventional centres for civic education, with a new initiative seeking to turn everyday conversations into platforms for political awareness and women's leadership.
Badili Africa, with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, is promoting an initiative dubbed Transformative Gossip, which seeks to help women understand their rights, question leadership and participate more actively in decisions affecting their communities.
The initiative recognises that conversations about insecurity, water shortages, roads, public services and local leaders often take place in informal settings where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences and opinions.
Speaking during a recent convening organised by Badili Africa and the Swiss Embassy, the organisation's Executive Director, Bina Maseno, said these everyday interactions could be used to strengthen civic knowledge and public participation.
“Civic education does not always have to begin in a formal meeting or a political rally. It can start with a conversation in a salon or barbershop or a chama,” Maseno said.
“These are trusted spaces where people spend time, share their experiences and discuss what matters to them. We can transform these spaces into powerful civic classrooms by turning those conversations into knowledge, confidence and meaningful participation in public life,” she added.
The initiative comes as political parties and aspirants prepare for the next General Election, with the programme seeking to bridge the gap between women's grassroots influence and their representation in formal political institutions.
How Chamas Could Influence Political Participation
According to Badili Africa, the programme currently works with more than 600 chama groups, reaching over 10,000 women across the country.
Chamas, which range from informal savings circles to established investment groups, provide networks through which members exchange information, support one another financially and organise around shared concerns.
The initiative seeks to build on these existing relationships by encouraging discussions about leadership, accountability, electoral processes, county budgets and women's rights.
Although women already play important roles as community organisers and political mobilisers, Badili Africa argues that their contributions do not always translate into decision-making positions, access to political parties or elective office.
The organisation says Transformative Gossip aims to connect women's influence in their communities with the institutions and processes that determine public policy and leadership.
The approach also challenges the perception that gossip is merely idle talk, arguing that informal conversations can help communities identify shared problems and organise collective responses when discussions are grounded in reliable information.
Why Barbershops Are Part of the Plan
Morgan Otieno, a barber based in Kayole, said barbershops offer opportunities to engage people on issues beyond personal grooming.
“People come to the barbershop for more than a haircut. They talk about their families, security, politics and what is happening in the community. We can use that trust responsibly to encourage people to ask questions, share information and come together around issues affecting them,” Otieno said.
Through the initiative, salonists and barbers are being positioned as potential facilitators of civic learning, using their existing relationships with customers and neighbourhood residents.
Participants who completed the Transformative Gossip Leadership Training Programme received practical skills in civic education, storytelling, community organising and safeguarding referral information.
The training also highlights the importance of handling sensitive discussions responsibly, particularly when conversations touch on violence, personal safety and other potentially sensitive community issues.
Millie Odhiambo on Challenges Facing Women in Politics
Beyond civic awareness, the initiative seeks to address barriers that continue to affect women's participation in political leadership.
These include online harassment, threats, gender-based violence, financial constraints and restrictive social expectations that can discourage women from seeking elective office or remaining active in politics.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo Mabona said encouraging women to vie for political positions was not enough without practical measures to protect and support them.
“Women need more than encouragement to run for office. They need fair political processes, strong support networks and safeguards against intimidation. Their participation must also be supported beyond election day, including when they face setbacks or challenges in the political process,” she said.
The discussions also examined how grassroots networks could encourage women to participate in political parties, electoral processes, county budgeting and other public decision-making forums.
Kiambu County nominated MCA Njambi Kinyanjui said women's existing contributions to community life needed to be recognised and translated into greater influence in formal leadership.
“Women already contribute to political life through their communities and networks. Their voices must be heard, their concerns taken seriously and their leadership supported beyond the campaign period,” she said.
Switzerland Backs Grassroots Civic Engagement
Swiss Ambassador to Kenya Mirko Giulietti said inclusive participation was important to strengthening democratic processes.
“Democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to be heard and influence decisions. This project shows how everyday conversations can help build collective voices that reach and enhance women’s participation in decision-making processes,” he said.
While the initiative seeks to create accessible entry points for civic engagement, Badili Africa acknowledges that informal conversations cannot replace formal civic education or wider institutional reforms.
Its broader objective is to help women translate the influence they already exercise in their communities into sustained participation in public affairs, including beyond the 2027 election campaign period.
