Date: Wed 19 March 2025 – Fri 21 March 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PMVenue: Embakasi Central sub-county, Nairobi County
Introduction
The Young Women Growing Initiative in collaboration with the Tatua Digital Centre is conducting a 3-day workshop on digital rights and cybersecurity awareness for young women and youth involved in governance, civic engagements, and policy change. The training aims to build the capacity of participants to understand their digital rights, exposure, and safety.
Background and Context
Kenya is witnessing a transformative shift in civic participation, and Generation Z has become a leading force in redefining political engagement and activism. Using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), young people have successfully organized grassroots movements addressing pressing issues such as the rising costs of living, climate change, corruption, and social justice. For instance, the 2024 protests against the Finance Bill showcased how online campaigns like #RejectFinanceBill and #OccupyParliament translated into nationwide physical demonstrations that pressured the government to amend the bill. In particular, young women have stepped into leadership roles within these movements and introduced unique perspectives to policy discussions and civic initiatives.
Nonetheless, the increased visibility of youth and women in online activism has made them prime targets for digital security risks that threaten their safety and effectiveness. The political class has retaliated harshly with threats, harassment, and intimidation to repress freedom of speech and access to information. Reports of arbitrary arrests, abductions, and suspicious deaths of activists have increased tenfold in the last few years, creating widespread fear of surveillance. Another significant concern is attempts by the state to manipulate and influence online discussions through smear campaigns and disinformation, which have eroded public trust in the youth activists. Women are especially targeted for online harassment and gender-based violence, which are aimed at instilling fear and silencing their online presence.
Many activists, particularly those from grassroots and low-income backgrounds, lack adequate training on cybersecurity best practices, leaving them susceptible to basic attacks like phishing or malware. Additionally, financial limitations hinder access to secure devices, software updates, or advanced cybersecurity tools. These factors expose activists’ communications and data to unauthorized access and create a chilling effect. They also exacerbate the shrinking of the civic space, threatening women’s and youth’s ability to influence governance reforms and policy changes in Kenya.
The workshop aims to address these challenges by:
- Assessing digital risks that inhibit their participation in governance and contribution to the civic space.
- Nurturing digital literacy, rights, and awareness capacity of women and youth
- Educating them on how to harden their digital devices and apps against common cyber attacks
- Empowering young digital voices with social media safety skills to aid their advocacy
The workshop will bring together:
- Community Organisers
- Communication officers in grassroots organisations.
- Young female opinion leaders,
- community actors,
- Women human rights defenders,
- young men,
- young mothers,
- PWDs and
- Gender minorities.
Ideally, we aim for 20 participants to attend, comprising 2 community leaders per ward, 5 young women per ward, 5 gender response teams, 3 youth leaders, 2 local administrators, and 3 women human rights defenders. The workshops will be facilitated by Tatua digital resilience trainers who are experienced in the digital safety, rights, and governance space.
Digital Security Awareness Training for Effective Participation in Governance
Date: Wed 19 March 2025 – Fri 21 March 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Venue: Embakasi Central sub-county, Nairobi County
Program
Day 1: 19 March, 2025
| Time | Activity | Facilitator |
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Arrival and registration | YWGI & Tatua |
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Welcome remarks & Housekeeping | YWGI – Winnie & Beatrice |
| 9:00 am -10:30 am | Reflections on the Reject Finance Bill Civic Action | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | TEA BREAK | |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Community organizing and Digital Capacities | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 12:00 pm -1:00 pm | Group work | Beatrice, YWGI Valarie Waswa,Legal Fellow, KICTANet |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Summary and presentation of group work Check-out survey | Beatrice, YWGI Valarie Waswa,Legal Fellow, KICTANet |
| 3:00 pm | TEA BREAK/ END OF WORKSHOP |
Day 2: 20 March, 2025
| Time | Activity | Facilitator |
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Arrival and registration | YWGI & Tatua |
| 8:30 am – 10:30 am | Cyber Hygiene: Best Practices for Online Safety | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | TEA BREAK | |
| 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | How the Internet Works and how to protect your privacy and digital identity | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Practical session on PhishingCheck-out survey | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 3:00 pm | TEA BREAK/ END OF WORKSHOP |
Day 3: 21 March, 2025
| Time | Activity | Facilitator |
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Arrival and registration | YWGI & Tatua |
| 8:30 am – 9:30 am | Understanding Data Protection in Kenya & Its Relevance to Civic Engagement | Valarie Waswa,Legal Fellow, KICTANet |
| 9:30 am -10:30 am | PracticalSession: Strategies for Protecting Personal & Organizational Data | Valarie Waswa, Legal Fellow, KICTANet |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | TEA BREAK | |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Data Breaches, Threat Mitigation & Legal Redress | Valarie Waswa, Legal Fellow, KICTANet |
| 12:00 pm -1:00 pm | Emerging Technologies for Digital Organising (Risks and Opportunities) | Jacinta Wothaya, Tatua |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Q&A Closing Remarks | YWGI & Tatua |
| 3:00 pm | TEA BREAK/ END OF WORKSHOP |