Artivism
Changamka Na Sanaa
#ChangamkaNaSanaa was a 6-month voter education and advocacy project that was implemented in Kisumu, Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa counties with the aim of empowering the Kenyan youth to change their social, political, and economic environments for the better by exercising their constitutional right to vote. The 4 counties are Kenya’s biggest cities with a high population, especially of young people. #ChangamkaNaSanaa was used to galvanize, inspire and connect Kenyan youth to enable them to vote and engage positively, peacefully and meaningfully during the electoral process in 2017.
Sanaa 4 Change?
Sanaa 4 Change was a project which focused on championing Kenyan youth during the election period as tools of change through the use of artivism. The project brought together different artists from various backgrounds through the use of social media with the aim to promote democracy and good governance using their artistic skills.
The program focused on inspiring talented youth in the areas of Mathare, Shauri Moyo and Eastleigh.
Emerging Voices
#Emerging Voices was a one-year project implemented in 2017 that brought together emerging artistes and activists with the more established and experienced artistes and activists in one platform for experience sharing, curation of joint projects and mentorship for the emerging artistes/activists so that they can better their craft. The project’s main aim was to create a platform for interaction for both cadres and in so doing help build relationship between the two cadres of artistes and activists and create a platform where the established artistes/activists could share their experiences and mentor the emerging artistes and human rights defenders in their new roles as social accountability actors in Kenya.
We The People exhibition
In 2024, Gen Z emerged as a formidable political force, marking a significant shift in Kenya’s civic and democratic space. The widespread protests against the Finance Bill 2024 disproved long-standing assumptions about youth apathy in governance. In response to this pivotal moment, PAWA254 launched an exhibition series titled “Documenting Kenya’s Democracy through the Creative Lens” to provide a platform for reflection, dialogue, and continued civic engagement—particularly among youth—beyond the immediate context of the then Finance Bill.
The objectives of the 2025 exhibition were to:
- Raise public awareness and stimulate reflection on Kenya’s democratic and human rights journey through artistic expression that holds the government accountable and engages citizens — commemorating the 2024 Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill.
- Promote artivism as a powerful and legitimate tool for social change, encouraging its integration into civic education and advocacy efforts.
- Provide a platform for young people to share their civic experiences, express aspirations, and propose actionable policy ideas through various forms of art.
- Create opportunities for artists to showcase and monetize their work, establishing sustainable avenues for distribution and income generation.
Project Unmute
Project Unmute is a six-month ‘Creative Governance Project’ aimed at empowering creatives artivists in Nairobi, Kisumu, Laikipia, Nakuru and Kericho counties by a consortium of Youth Serving Organisations (YSOs) that are PAWA254, Siasa Place, Badili Africa and Tribless Youth.
The project seeks to encourage the continuous and meaningful participation of young people in democratic and governance processes by leveraging digital media and creative storytelling. Through partnerships with creative voices and organisations already engaged in civic and political education, Project Unmute harnesses the power of art and culture to educate, mobilise, and engage communities to foster sustainable political and economic development.
The project aims to increase interpretation, understanding and application of constitutional provisions to hold the government accountable, and we aim to achieve this through increased public participation at all levels in order to strengthen the role of citizens as drivers of accountability mechanisms. Ultimately, the project seeks to create and produce positive narratives centred on active citizen engagement and people power to counter perceptions, and inspire action.
Digital Action Lab (DAL)
The DemocrARtic Exhibitions project was launched in September 2025 under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), with the support of CIVICUS Global Alliance and in partnership with BlackRhino VR, with the goal of enhancing civic participation through creative expression and digital innovation.
The project seeks to empower artists to use art, technology, and advocacy as tools for democratic engagement, particularly among young people ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Elections.
Where’s My Space (British Council Wales)
Carried out during the COVID19 pandemic, Where’s My Space? was a collaborative digital project that has brought together two organizations from Kenya and Wales, PAWA254 and Ffotogallery Wales, to create a virtual gathering place, or ‘Base Noma’ (to use a Kenyan expression) where young creatives from the partner countries can come together, show and tell, showcase their work to online audiences and share their ideas and lived experiences.
