#ShujaaMtaani

Brenda Cheboi is a young Indigenous Persons activist from the Sengwer community whose ancestral home is in Embobut Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Brenda works towards the realisation of an enabling environment for youths and young girls in the community to become economically empowered to reduce the national unemployment rate of 35% amongst youths in Kenya.

She also advocates for land justice, zero sexual and gender based violence and continuously challenges oppressive patriarchal norms within her society.

A teacher by profession, Brenda has been instrumental for her community by being the translator and interpreter of government messaging on Covid-19 management guidelines. She uses participatory theatre to sensitize community members in their homesteads.

Moreover,  she has used the same approach to engage community members who cannot read and write about land justice and the Constitution of Kenya.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Brenda’s skills on liquid soap making were enhanced by the Defenders Coalition. Through the training, Brenda has passed on the skills to Sengwer Youth and Women through regular training. She has overseen the making of over 300 litres of liquid soap by trainees, which is then distributed to community members and neighbours for free.

With the help of the new trainees, Brenda continues to rally and sensitize community members on the need to maintain high hygiene standards to combat the spread of the virus and also for personal health and wellbeing. Through her efforts they have been able to distribute soap to all homesteads within their locality.