Coast Education Center - COEC

17/04/2026

Care Work is the Invisible Engine of Our Economy,
Unpaid, undervalued yet absolutely indispensable.

When we finally recognize, reduce, and redistribute care work, we unlock not just the full potential of women but the full prosperity of our nation.
Coast Education Centre (COEC) joined stakeholders to advance the conversation on Care Mainstreaming in Kenya; a crucial step toward building a more just and inclusive society.
From unpaid domestic work to community health, migrant protection, and ending child labour care touches every part of our lives, yet remains largely unseen.

It’s time to move care from the margins to the center of policy, investment, and action.

Recognize. Reduce. Redistribute. Reward. Represent.
A caring society is a thriving society.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICAN National Counter Terrorism Centre - Kenya European Union in Kenya UN Women Kilifi County Government Kwale County Government FAO Kenya Council of Governors-Kenya Kilifi County Engagement Forum Mombasa County

01/04/2026

25/03/2026

“Healing alone is not enough. Recovery must include dignity, livelihood, and independence.”

At Coast Education Centre (COEC), we have stood with women and girls affected by violent extremism walking with them through pain, trauma, and healing. Through our counselling support, many have found hope again. But one question remained: what comes after healing?

Today, we are taking the next step. Through our Support Crisis-Led Response (SCLR) approach, we are linking healing to economic empowerment supporting survivors to rebuild their lives with dignity, access financial opportunities, and create sustainable livelihoods.

Because true recovery is not just about healing wounds it is about restoring independence, confidence, and purpose. Together with our partners and communities, we are moving women from vulnerability to resilience, and from recovery to lasting change.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICAN National Counter Terrorism Centre - Kenya Kilifi County Government UN Women European Union in Kenya Kwale County Government FAO Kenya Kilifi County Engagement Forum Council of Governors-Kenya

17/03/2026

Celebrating Women. Empowering Communities. Building Hope.

At Coast Education Centre (COEC), we proudly honor the strength, resilience, courage, and brilliance of women and girls across Kenya and beyond.

Every day, we remain committed to protecting women and girls from gender-based violence, femicide, harmful cultural practices, and the lasting trauma caused by violent extremism. Because every woman deserves to live in dignity, safety, and peace.

This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” reminds us of a powerful truth:
When we give—love, respect, opportunity, protection, and justice—we all gain.

🌍 Strong women build strong families.
🤝 Strong families build resilient communities.
🌱 And resilient communities build a better future for all of us.

For the past four years, COEC has stood with women during the holy month of Ramadhan, bringing them together in solidarity and support. Through shared meals, financial assistance, and safe spaces for healing, we continue to restore hope and dignity.

This year, we reached 160 incredible women from Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa survivors who have undergone trauma healing and care support after experiencing violent extremism. Their strength inspires us every single day.

But we can do more—together.
As we look ahead to the next Ramadhan, we invite you to join us in supporting these amazing women and girls.

👉 Let’s ensure every woman is seen.
👉 Let’s ensure every girl is valued.
👉 Let’s ensure every voice is heard and celebrated.

Let's Join hands with COEC. Give—and together, we will all gain.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICAN National Counter Terrorism Centre - Kenya Kilifi County Government European Union in Kenya UN Women United Nations Development Programme - UNDP FAO Kenya German Embassy Nairobi Kwale County Government

09/03/2026

Building Safer Communities Starts With Us.

Today, COEC joined stakeholders at a forum convened by the National Counter Terrorism Centre to reflect on the drivers of Violent Extremism in Kilifi County and what communities can do to prevent it.

The conversation was clear: violent extremism often grows where poverty, unemployment, marginalization, and mistrust in institutions persist. These challenges, combined with online radicalization and unresolved local conflicts, create vulnerabilities that extremist groups can exploit.

But the solution is also clear — strong collaboration between communities and security actors.

Participants emphasized the need to build trust, transparency, and accountability, strengthen community policing and Nyumba Kumi structures, and ensure women and youth are actively involved in peace and security efforts.

At COEC, we believe peace and security are strongest when communities are informed, included, and empowered to be part of the solution.

🤝 Together, we can build resilient and peaceful coastal communities.





International Civil Society Action Network - ICANKilifi County Engagement Forum National Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaUNDP KenyaUN WomenNational Counter Terrorism Centre - Kenya

09/03/2026

International Women’s Day 2026 – Mombasa, Kenya

As Kenya marked International Women’s Day 2026, the Coast Education Centre (COEC) joined communities across the Coast region in calling for urgent and concrete measures to strengthen women’s rights and access to justice.

This year’s global theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” reminds us that progress on paper must translate into real protection and opportunity for women and girls in everyday life.

Despite Kenya’s progressive constitutional and legal framework on gender equality, many women at the Coast continue to face significant barriers in accessing their rights. Community voices highlighted persistent challenges including gender-based violence, property and succession disputes affecting widows, limited access to legal aid, and systemic delays in the justice system.

Cases of defilement of children continue to put immense pressure on investigative and judicial systems, while delays in prosecution weaken public confidence in the administration of justice. At the same time, many widows and vulnerable women still experience property dispossession and inheritance conflicts, despite existing legal protections.

Economic inequalities, the burden of unpaid care work, and under representation of women in elective and appointive leadership positions remain major obstacles to achieving gender equality. While policy frameworks such as gender-responsive budgeting exist, their inconsistent implementation across sectors and counties limits their transformative potential.

In response, COEC has proposed eight urgent actions aimed at strengthening women’s rights and improving access to justice. These include accelerating legal and policy reforms, expanding legal aid services, strengthening institutional accountability, and ensuring full compliance with constitutional requirements on gender representation in leadership and decision-making bodies.

Women should never be a battleground for injustice. Their rights must be protected, their voices heard, and their leadership fully recognized.

Together, we must move from commitment to action to ensure that every woman and girl lives with dignity, equality, and justice.







International Civil Society Action Network - ICANKilifi County GovernmentNational Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaEuropean Union in KenyaUN WomenUnited Nations Development Programme - UNDP

02/03/2026

Women must never be a battleground. Not in our homes. Not in our politics. Not in our communities. Not in our nation. For far too long, women have carried the weight of violence, exclusion, and silence. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to wound families and weaken societies. But this is not a fight women can or should carry alone. The struggle to end GBV will only be won when men stand alongside women. Inclusion is not optional; it is essential. When men become partners in justice, peace becomes possible.

As we approach International Women’s Day, we were deeply encouraged by a powerful show of solidarity among women leaders and stakeholders at the British High Commission in Kenya.

Her Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. She pledged support for the third generation of Kenya’s National Action Plan (KNAP III), recognizing the urgent need to strengthen women’s leadership, protection, and participation in peace and governance processes.

In her remarks, she acknowledged the efforts of Coast Education Centre (COEC) in amplifying women’s voices and championing inclusive leadership at the Coast and nationally. Importantly, she expressed her support toward ensuring that women claim their rightful space in leadership as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Elections.

The occasion, held at the British High Commission Nairobi, brought together key leaders including the Acting British High Commissioner and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for International Affairs signaling that the call for women’s full participation is not symbolic, but strategic.

Women have suffered long enough. The time for tokenism is over. The time for transformation is now. At COEC, we remain committed to ensuring that women are not casualties of politics but architects of peace, policy, and progress.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICANKilifi County GovernmentNational Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaKwale County GovernmentMombasa Sub County AdministrationUN WomenUN SDG Action CampaignFAO Kenya

23/02/2026

Coast Education Centre (COEC) together with other members of the County Engagement Forum (CEF) on Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in implementing the Kwale County Action Plan on PCVE held a forum, which brought together key stakeholders involved in PCVE coordination and implementation to review progress, strengthen collaboration, and enhance accountability mechanisms at the county level.
Key highlights from the engagement:
🔹 Strengthening Multi-Agency Collaboration; Members resolved to broaden CEF membership to include the Judiciary, Probation Department, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), National Intelligence Service (NIS), and Education sector representatives. This expansion will enhance coordination across justice, security, and community systems to address drivers of violent extremism more effectively.
🔹 Improving Participation & Communication; The forum emphasized the need for consistent attendance and deliberate communication. Moving forward, detailed agendas will accompany meeting invitations, and the official membership list will guide mobilization to ensure inclusive and targeted engagement.
🔹 Institutional Memory & Accountability; A major resolution was the establishment of a dedicated CEF & PCVE Secretariat File at the County Commissioner’s Office. This repository will safeguard minutes, reports, and key documents to strengthen institutional memory, continuity, and transparency in PCVE processes.
🔹 Enhanced Leadership & Coordination; Priority Area Leads will convene an orientation meeting with the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) and the County Commissioner. Additionally, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JAC) will serve as Co-Chair to support member mobilization and communication.
🔹 Strengthening Reporting to NCTC; The forum discussed the need to streamline reporting processes and follow up with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on templates and approval timelines to improve coordination and timely implementation.
As COEC, we remain committed to strengthening community resilience, promoting inclusive dialogue, and supporting coordinated county-led efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism.
We appreciate the leadership of the Deputy County Commissioner and all partners for their continued collaboration.

International Civil Society Action Network - ICAN Kwale County GovernmentKwale Department Of Social Services & Talent ManagementNational Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaUN WomenUNDP Kenya

13/02/2026

Advancing Early Warning & Response in Coastal Kenya: As the world marks the International Day for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, COEC reaffirms its commitment to strengthening community resilience across the Coast of Kenya.
Violent extremism does not begin with violence, it begins with exclusion, marginalization, misinformation, and silence. That is why early warning and timely response systems are critical in protecting our communities.
At the Coast, women and youth remain both disproportionately affected and uniquely positioned as agents of peace. Through advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, we recognize:
🔹 Women as frontline peacebuilders and early warning actors
🔹 Youth as partners in prevention, not targets of suspicion
🔹 Faith leaders and community elders as custodians of social cohesion
🔹 Media as responsible shapers of public narratives
COEC continues to strengthen grassroots structures that detect risks early, respond locally, and prevent escalation before harm occurs. Sustainable P/CVE must be community-led, gender-responsive, and rooted in trust.
We call upon: County governments, Development partners, Security agencies, Civil society actors and Community leaders. To invest in inclusive early warning systems, empower women-led peace initiatives, and prioritize prevention over reaction. Preventing violent extremism is not only a security issue, it is a development, governance, and human rights priority.
Together, we can build a peaceful, resilient Coastal region where every voice counts and every life matters.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICANKilifi County GovernmentNational Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaEuropean Union in KenyaUnited Nations Development Programme - UNDP@

12/02/2026

🌍 COEC at the Mombasa CFSP Budget Forum: Driving Positive Change 🌍
COEC participated in the Mombasa County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) forum, where key budget priorities and citizen perspectives were discussed for 2026. It was inspiring to see communities, youth, women, and leaders engage in shaping the future of our county.
From the forum, what stood out:
• Strengthening early childhood and vocational education to empower our young people.
• Enhancing community participation in governance, ensuring women and marginalized groups have a voice.
• Prioritizing programs that promote peace, security, and social cohesion across Mombasa.
COEC is committed to use these outcomes as a foundation to drive positive change. We will focus on Mobilizing communities to engage in governance and budget processes, Promoting peace and security through youth and interfaith engagement programs, Advocating for gender equality and creating opportunities for women to participate fully in decision making. We believe that when communities are informed, united, and empowered, lasting social impact follows. Together, we can build a Mombasa that is peaceful, inclusive, and resilient.


International Civil Society Action Network - ICAN National Counter Terrorism Centre - Kenya Mombasa Sub County Administration

09/02/2026

COEC Strengthens Media Role in Preventing Violent Extremism: COEC proudly participated in the Media & Communication Capacity Building Forum in Kilifi County, part of the Kenya-EU PCVE Project (2025–2029). Over three days, journalists, content creators, influencers, and artists came together to learn how to counter extremist narratives, communicate during crises, and amplify positive community voices.

Kilifi, a frontline county in the fight against violent extremism, provided the perfect setting for practical, community-focused discussions. COEC is committed to using these insights to empower coastal communities, foster resilience, and collaborate with media and government partners. With support COEC will scale up these initiatives together and build safer, stronger, and more informed communities.


Kilifi County GovernmentInternational Civil Society Action Network - ICANNational Counter Terrorism Centre - KenyaUnited Nations Development Programme - UNDPEuropean Union in KenyaGerman Embassy Nairobi