Girls Call for Greater Voice in Leadership and Kenya’s Future

Polycom Girls’ 6th Annual Girls Assembly brought together more than 120 girls and young women to discuss leadership, participation and the issues shaping their lives.

More than 120 adolescent girls and young women from across Kenya gathered in Nairobi for the 6th Annual Girls Assembly.

Convened by Polycom Girls, the two-day assembly ran from 15 to 16 September 2026 under the theme “Unleashing Authentic Feminine Leadership.”

The gathering brought together girls, women leaders, policymakers, development partners and women’s rights advocates.

Together, they discussed leadership, decision-making and the role girls can play in shaping their communities and future.

The conversations covered issues including gender-based violence, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, climate justice, WASH, economic rights, Women, Peace and Security, male allyship and partnerships.

Girls Want a Seat at the Table

A key message from the assembly was the need for girls and young women to participate meaningfully in decision-making.

With Kenya preparing for the 2027 General Election, participants also discussed peaceful civic and political participation.

Polycom Girls Founder and Executive Director Jane Anyango said the organisation is committed to equipping girls with leadership skills.

She also stressed the importance of their participation in governance and public decision-making.

“Young people cannot be discussed in their absence,” she said.

The discussion also highlighted the need to support girls who enter public and political spaces. Participants noted that young women need opportunities to remain engaged despite challenges that may arise during electoral periods.

Leadership Starts With Listening

The assembly also explored what authentic leadership should look like.

The keynote speaker, H.E. Henk Jan Bakker, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, encouraged young leaders to listen to different perspectives.

“A good leader is open to other opinions and other voices,” he said.

He encouraged leaders to create room for differing views. He also cautioned against surrounding themselves only with people who agree with them.

At the same time, Bakker noted that development partners can provide support and resources. However, sustainable development ultimately requires ownership by communities and governments.

Girls Call for Greater Voice in Leadership and Kenya’s Future

Girls as Solution Builders

Polycom Girls Programs Officer Aphline Yogo said the assembly was designed to give girls space to develop their own ideas.

“Girls are pitching their ideas and we want them to be realized,” Yogo said.

She explained that the approach places intentional participation and ownership at the centre of the assembly.

The organisation’s model is built around four principles: Connect, Co-create, Champion and Celebrate.

This approach gives girls an opportunity to build networks, develop ideas and strengthen their confidence.

It also positions them as contributors to solutions rather than only beneficiaries of development programmes.

Development Must Reflect Girls’ Realities

Florence Syevuo, Executive Director of the SDGs Kenya Forum, called for development conversations that reflect girls’ everyday experiences.

“SDGs embody the lived realities of the girls,” she said.

Issues such as safe environments, menstrual health and technology-facilitated gender-based violence affect girls directly.

Therefore, Syevuo said, solutions should involve girls in identifying and addressing these challenges.

“We cannot do development from a place of what we know. We must include the girls as we seek answers to their problems,” she said.

Polycom Girls’ wider work includes leadership development, protection from violence, WASH, climate action and women’s economic empowerment.

Building Leadership Beyond the Assembly

Over the past five years, the Annual Girls Assembly has connected more than 1,000 young women with mentors, policymakers, women leaders, donors and development partners, according to the organization.

The 6th edition builds on that platform by placing greater emphasis on authentic leadership, confidence, self-expression, mentorship and active participation.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of locally led development.

Development partners can provide resources and opportunities. However, grassroots organisations and communities need the capacity and partnerships to sustain progress beyond individual projects.

Looking Towards Peace and Social Cohesion

The assembly also opened conversations around peace and social cohesion ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.

Polycom Girls says its 7th Annual Girls Assembly will build on these discussions. The next edition will place greater emphasis on peace and the role of girls and young women in building inclusive communities.

The message from the 6th assembly was clear.

Girls should not simply be prepared for the future.

They should have meaningful opportunities to participate in shaping it.