At the heart of Rise Up’s mission in Kenya is Naomi Nyaboke Monda, our dedicated Kenya Program Coordinator, who is leading efforts to advance gender equity and empower women and girls across the country. Based in Nairobi, Naomi brings years of experience championing adolescent sexual and reproductive health, addressing gender-based violence, and strengthening the capacity of local leaders. She combines this expertise with a deep personal passion for justice and equality.

In this conversation, Naomi reflects on what drives her commitment to gender justice, insights from our recent Kenya Accelerator, and her vision for how local leaders can create lasting change for women, girls, and communities nationwide.

Rise Up: You’ve worked extensively in gender equality and women’s empowerment – what drew you to join Rise Up and lead our work in Kenya?

Naomi: My passion for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is rooted in seeing communities thrive when women and girls are given equal opportunities to lead, learn, and influence change. Having worked across Kenya – from urban to rural settings – I have led community sensitizations, implemented projects challenging harmful social norms that perpetuate gender-based violence, and built the capacity of leaders, organizations, and communities to advocate for social justice.

I was drawn to Rise Up because of its unique model of investing directly in visionary local leaders and equipping them to transform their communities from within. In Kenya, while we have made progress in education, political participation, and legal reforms, women and girls still face systemic barriers such as gender-based violence, limited economic opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership. Leading Rise Up’s work here allows me to channel both my passion and experience into supporting leaders who are breaking barriers, shaping policy, and creating inclusive systems. For me, it is both a calling and a privilege to help nurture a future where women and girls in Kenya can fully thrive and realize their potential.

Rise Up: What is your personal connection to gender equity?  

Naomi: For me, gender equity is deeply personal. I come from an extended family of strong women, and I have witnessed both sides of the gender equity journey. Some of them have faced limitations and even abuse because of inequality, while others have thrived when given opportunities and a platform to use their voice and power. These experiences shaped my conviction that when women and girls are empowered, they not only transform their own lives but also uplift entire families and communities. Throughout my career, I have carried this belief with me, working alongside other leaders and communities to challenge inequities and open doors for women and girls to lead and thrive. 

Rise Up: Which moments during the six days in Nairobi stood out to you most?  

Naomi: During the 6-day Accelerator workshop in Nairobi, what struck me most was the passion and commitment of our 2025 cohort of leaders to transform their communities. As they shared their personal experiences and approaches to driving change, it was clear that they are knowledgeable, dedicated, and deeply invested in creating a better future. Watching how they engaged with the training sessions and materials was inspiring, but what stood out most for me were the powerful stories from their own work on the ground. These moments not only highlighted their resilience and innovation but also enriched my own experience by giving me firsthand insight into the realities and opportunities within their communities. 

Rise Up: How did you see the leaders grow – both in their skills and their confidence – throughout the week? 

Naomi: Before the Accelerator workshop, we carried out a needs assessment and pre-test to understand the leaders’ preferred learning styles and their existing knowledge. This allowed us to tailor the training to their needs. From day one, I witnessed tremendous growth, not only in knowledge but also in confidence. Initially, a few leaders were more vocal while others were quiet, but as the days went by, the dynamic shifted into a more balanced and respectful space. The quieter leaders began to take charge, share their experiences, and confidently defend their strategies, while others gave room for diverse voices. By the end of the workshop, the growth was evident, leaders evaluated the program very highly, noting how much they had gained in knowledge, skills, and networks. Their post-test results confirmed this progress, showing significant improvement across all areas of learning. 

Rise Up: What do you hope the 27 Kenya Leaders will achieve in their communities as a result of the Accelerator? 

Naomi: I hope that the leaders in our 2025 cohort will take the skills, knowledge, and connections they gained through the Accelerator and translate them into tangible change in their communities. My vision is that they will advance policies, shift harmful social norms, and expand opportunities for women, girls, and marginalized groups. Most importantly, I hope they continue to grow as confident, collaborative leaders who can influence systems, inspire others, and sustain impact well beyond this program. 

Rise Up: What inspires you most about working with leaders?  

Naomi: What inspires me most about working with Rise Up Leaders is their unwavering commitment to creating change, often in the face of significant challenges. They bring passion, creativity, and resilience to their work, and it is humbling to see how deeply they care for their communities. The leaders are also incredibly diverse, coming from different backgrounds and organizations working at county, national, and even international levels. Each leader brings rich experiences that not only strengthen their collective impact but also broadens the scope of Rise Up’s reach. Their courage to challenge the status quo and their determination to drive meaningful change inspire me every day. 

Rise Up: Why is investing in local leaders so critical to advancing gender equity in Kenya? 

Naomi: Investing in local leaders is critical because they deeply understand the challenges and opportunities that exist within their own communities. They have the trust, credibility, and lived experience needed to effectively challenge harmful norms, influence policies, and drive sustainable solutions. In Kenya, advancing gender equity not only requires national reforms but also community-driven change, and local leaders are best positioned to bridge that gap. By equipping them with resources, skills, and networks, we are empowering them to create lasting impact that uplifts women, girls, and entire communities. 

Rise Up: Rise Up’s Accelerator model has been used successfully in countries around the world – what makes our approach effective in creating lasting change?  

Naomi: Rise Up’s Accelerator model centers local leaders as the drivers of change. We don’t impose solutions; instead, we invest in leaders’ ideas, strengthen their skills, and connect them to networks and resources that amplify their impact. This ensures that change is locally led, context-specific, and sustainable. The model also fosters collaboration among leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds, creating stronger, collective strategies for advancing gender equity. 

Importantly, the projects that emerge from the Accelerator are not just short-term initiatives; they drive systemic change. Our leaders have successfully influenced new and amended laws, shaped policies, developed implementation guidelines and monitoring frameworks, and advocated for increased budgets to advance gender equity. By equipping leaders with the tools and support they need, the Accelerator lays the foundation for transformative systems change that continues long after the program ends. 

Rise Up: Can you share an example from the Kenya Accelerator where our methodology made a clear difference in how a leader approached their advocacy goal?  

Naomi: One powerful example from the Kenya Accelerator was a leader who initially wanted to raise general awareness about gender-based violence in schools, especially with recent national discussion on the grooming of children. Through Rise Up’s training and coaching, she sharpened her focus, aligned her strategies with policy opportunities, and developed a concrete advocacy project. Her new approach centers on creating an inclusive model for School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) reporting and response mechanisms at the county level, with the vision of scaling it to other counties. By the end of the Accelerator, she had a clear strategy, strong stakeholder mapping, and the confidence to engage policymakers. This shift from awareness-raising to systems-level advocacy perfectly illustrates how the Accelerator equips leaders to transform broad ambitions into actionable projects with the potential for lasting, scalable impact.