HRD Academy Beneficiary 2019
Baringo County-Kenya
Janet Nandwa Ongoli describes herself as a woman warrior, and it is easy to see why. Her voice carries both calm conviction and quiet fire, the kind that comes from years of standing firm in the face of resistance.
“I was raised in Baringo County,” she began, “and that place shaped me into the advocate I am today.”
Janet leads Active Citizen Initiative Africa, a women-led organization she founded in 2023 to champion the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in governance and budgeting. She also serves as the Communications Officer at the Baringo Civil Society Organization Forum, continuing her mission to ensure that every voice is heard.
Her leadership journey began much earlier, back in 2007, when she was still in high school. A planned student strike was about to turn destructive, but Janet stepped in and stopped her classmates from damaging school property. Ironically, her bravery earned her suspension after police called her “a big influence.” “It was painful,” she said, “but it also taught me what leadership really means, taking responsibility, even when it costs you.” That same year, she began volunteering with the Red Cross, and her path of service took root.
When Defenders Coalition asked about her experience before joining the HRD Academy, Janet laughed softly. “I knew nothing about security,” she admitted. “Not physical, not digital. I was exposing myself to danger every day without even realizing it.”
The HRD Academy changed that. Janet learned how to safeguard her data, care for her mental health, and connect with defenders across the country. But what stayed with her most was the diversity of people she met.
“It was my first time meeting members of the queer community and sex workers,” she said. “Listening to their stories, I saw courage in a new light. I became their ally, even when others disapproved. The academy reshaped how I see the world.”
Since graduating, Janet has led groundbreaking initiatives, including the first women-only budget forum in her constituency. The result was a gender-sensitive budget that finally reflected women’s priorities.
“Today, women in my constituency have a real voice in how money is spent,” she said proudly.
“The HRD Academy doesn’t just teach you skills,” she told Defenders Coalition. “It changes you. You walk in one person and leave another, stronger, more connected, and ready to challenge injustice at its roots.”