The Samburu Women Trust (SWT) has been awarded the National Trailblazer Award 2026, in recognition of its transformative work empowering indigenous women and girls across Kenya.
Founded by Jane Meriwas, Samburu Women Trust has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of human rights advocacy—amplifying the voices of indigenous women across pastoralist, hunter-gatherer, and marginalised communities.
For founder Jane Meriwas, the award represents more than recognition—it is validation of a long and often difficult journey.
Advocating for indigenous women’s rights, she notes, means confronting entrenched systems of patriarchy and discrimination. It is a path defined by resilience, courage, and persistence, where change comes slowly but meaningfully.
Presented under the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action’s Annual Trailblazer Awards, the honour celebrates institutions driving gender equality, inclusive development, and women’s empowerment nationwide.
From its base in Nanyuki, the organisation has built a powerful movement focused on leadership, rights protection, and sustainable livelihoods. Through training, mentorship, and advocacy, SWT has enabled women to actively participate in decision-making spaces at local, regional, and national levels.
At the heart of SWT’s work is the fight against harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. The organisation also advocates for the rights of women with disabilities and adolescent girls—groups often at the intersection of multiple forms of marginalisation.
Through its initiatives, SWT continues to challenge deeply rooted systems of inequality while promoting dignity, justice, and inclusion.
Samburu Women Trust’s impact is driven by a range of innovative, community-led programmes, including: Naapu Indigenous Women Fund, a feminist funding model supporting grassroots women’s groups, Nasaruni Indigenous Women Investment Hub, a safe space for training, healing, and economic empowerment, as well as climate resilience initiatives such as the Naramat Arboretum project in Isiolo County.
The organisation also convenes the Indigenous Women Council (IWC), a national coalition strengthening policy advocacy and collective voice among marginalised women across Kenya.
SWT’s work has been supported by key global partners, including the American Jewish World Service, Comic Relief, and the Christensen Fund—enabling the expansion of its programmes and reach.
Despite the challenges, indigenous women have continued to organise, educate, and uplift one another—building movements that are now reshaping leadership and policy spaces across the country.
Today, indigenous women are increasingly stepping into leadership, influencing policy, and driving community transformation.
The National Trailblazer Award 2026 stands as a testament to that progress—and to the power of grassroots activism.
As Samburu Women Trust continues its work, the message remains clear: the journey toward equality is not easy, but it is necessary—and the impact is undeniable.
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