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Change Ni Sisi:

An introduction to

Active Citizenship





The film

Softie (2020) is a documentary about the highly active political life of renowned activist Boniface Mwangi. It chronicles his life as a photographer and an activist on the streets, and the journey he took when he ran for office (MP-Starehe Constituency) in 2017. But it is more than just a story about a maverick activist with political ambitions, it is also the story of the strains his work and ideals have placed on his family, especially his wife, Njeri, and their three children.

Softie is a snapshot of the sacrifices that people who believe and fight for change in Kenya have to make, and a story of hope that such passion and dedication may one day trigger that change.

It is the story of one active citizen’s quest for a better Kenya. There is only one Boniface Mwangi, but anyone can be an active citizen. This guide is about the simple ways you, as a citizen, can be active in this common goal for a better Kenya.

“When you
fight for
your country,
your kids
benefit.”
-Boniface Mwangi

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Take Charge of

Your Citizenship

Kenya is a country because of its people. It exists because we exist. Being an active citizen is part and parcel of being a Kenyan. You already do it everyday, when you buy things, use public roads, pay taxes, go to the hospital, vote. Almost everything you do everyday means that you are already exercising your rights as a Kenyan.

There is still a lot more you can do.

Being a citizen is more than just being legally recognised as one. A citizen has rights, clearly defined in the constitution. A citizen also has duties and responsibilities to not only protect and defend their own rights, but also those of everyone else in the community.

An active citizen cares about the country, about its politics, its elections, working conditions, taxation policies, and so much more.

“It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”
-Wangari Maathai

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10 ways to be

An active citizen

Click on an issue to learn more


1. Talk about the issues online and offline

2. Form, join and Support Grassroots Movements

3. Pay Taxes and Question How they are used

4. Petition or Sue the government

5. Prevent and Fight Corruption

6. Vote for the right leaders

7. Participate in law-making

8. Run for Office

9. Stay Informed

10. Demand Accountability from elected leaders
“Corruption cannot be tackled from the top; it has to be confronted from the grassroots.”
-John Githongo

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Roles and Responsibilities

Of elected public officials


1. MCA

2. Members of Parliament & Women Reps

3. senator

4. Governor

5. president
“Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect.”
-Wangari Maathai

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What is your style

of activism


MAVERICK

Visionary

STRAIGHT SHOOTER

NURTURER

FRONTLINE RESPONDER

ANCHOR
“Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect.”
-Wangari Maathai

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How to organize

A protest


Article 37 of the constitution: Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.
  1. Identify the issues and goals.
  2. Identify the best course of action.For example, a protest can be in different forms, you might decide to march along a specific route, hold a vigil, or assemble at a specific place and sit in to draw attention to a cause. 
  3. Organize within the community, whether online or offline
  4. Decide on a date and time, as well as a meeting point, a route, and a destination. 
  5. Inform the police of your intentions and intended route. You can do this by visiting the police station under whose jurisdiction the protest will be held. 
  6. Invite the media, both local and international,  to cover the demonstration or protest. 
  7. Where possible, choose clear identifiers of the members of the protest. These can be branded t-shirts, twigs, or anything else that makes it easier to identify who is and who isn’t in the protest. 
  8. Provide constant updates on social media. 
  9. Beware of and prepare for the risks involved e.g violent reactions from the police, other members of the community.
  10. Debrief. 

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[ CLOSE ]

1. Talk about the issues

online and offline

Politics is not an election year event.. Neither should it be a reserve for the politicians. It is everyone’s duty to politic. It is a daily event, occurring everyday all around us. Is there insecurity in your village? Is the price of food too high? Is garbage left out unpicked on your streets? How about the infrastructure such as roads? Are the taxes and business licenses too expensive?

  • Talk about and understand the issues affecting you, the community, and the country.
  • You can talk about them anywhere, at home, at work, online and offline.
  • Use digital platforms including social media and messaging apps, to discuss the issues.
  • Talking about the issues helps you to understand not just the issues themselves, but also what can be done to solve them.
Did you know Kenya’s plastic bags ban was partly the result of years of campaigns by one environmental activist? In 2015, Nakuru photographer James Waikibia begun a Twitter campaign #BanPlasticsKE. He documented plastic pollution in Nakuru’s rivers and other places, and called for a ban on plastic bags. The campaign won the support of the government, and two years later, Kenya banned single-use plastic bags.