Beyond the Launch: How Kwale Is Investing in Its Next Generation of Women Leaders

More than 1,200 women and young people are set to benefit from a leadership initiative designed to build confidence, strengthen mentorship and open doors to decision-making.

What would change in Kwale if more young women had the confidence, skills and support to shape decisions in their communities—and even compete for public office?

That is the ambition behind SHE CIRCLE: Women Leading Across Generations, a one-year leadership empowerment initiative launched in Diani, Kwale County, on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Implemented by Peace Tree Network (PTN), the programme is expected to reach more than 1,200 women and young people, creating opportunities for leadership development, mentorship and greater civic and political participation.

The initiative comes at a time when young women continue to face barriers to leadership, including limited mentorship opportunities, low self-confidence and stereotypes that discourage them from pursuing positions of influence.

Empowering Women to Shape Their Communities

Speaking during the launch, Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga emphasised the importance of empowering communities from the grassroots to the highest levels of decision-making.

“Success is not about money but about empowering communities, from the grassroots to the corridors of power. The key to unlocking development is empowering a woman,” Chidzuga said.

She encouraged women and young people to embrace education and discipline, while cautioning young people against drug and substance abuse. She also urged them not to be intimidated or manipulated into violence and unrest.

Her message highlighted a central question for Kwale: how can communities create an environment where women and young people are not only encouraged to lead but are also supported to participate meaningfully in public life?

Starting Early, Building Leaders for the Future

For Peace Tree Network, developing future leaders begins long before someone seeks public office.

Executive Director Martha Okumu said SHE CIRCLE specifically targets young women aged 16 to 30, equipping them with the confidence and practical skills to pursue leadership and political careers.

The initiative will also extend to local schools, where learners will be introduced to leadership and peacebuilding. The aim is to nurture leadership potential early and challenge stereotypes that can limit girls’ aspirations.

“Engaging students in peacebuilding and leadership initiatives from an early age will help foster more peaceful communities, since learners also face challenges within their schools that need to be addressed,” Okumu said.

By connecting aspiring young leaders with established women leaders, the programme seeks to strengthen mentorship, encourage the exchange of experiences and help participants build networks they can draw on as they pursue their ambitions.

From Training to Real Opportunities

For the women taking part, leadership development is about more than attending workshops. It is about gaining practical skills they can apply in their daily lives, businesses and communities.

Mtama Muradhi said she hopes to gain practical leadership experience, build her confidence and clarify her career goals. She also plans to share what she learns with her peers through community dialogues, extending the programme’s benefits beyond individual participants.

Zainab Omar sees opportunities to strengthen both her economic prospects and her ability to participate safely in the digital world. She highlighted entrepreneurship skills, digital literacy and ways to navigate online spaces safely and respond to cyberbullying as important areas of learning.

These aspirations reflect the wider promise of SHE CIRCLE: supporting women and young people to translate knowledge into action, build supportive networks and take a more active role in shaping their futures.

A Wider Investment in Inclusive Leadership

The programme is implemented by Peace Tree Network with support from ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, through the Zivik Funding Programme, with support from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Its impact will ultimately depend on how effectively the opportunities created translate into stronger leadership, meaningful participation and greater support for women in community and public decision-making.

As SHE CIRCLE gets underway, the question is no longer simply whether women and young people in Kwale have leadership potential. It is whether families, communities and decision-makers will help create the conditions for that potential to flourish.

For the more than 1,200 women and young people expected to benefit, the initiative offers an opportunity to move beyond being invited into conversations—and towards helping shape the decisions that affect their lives.