Usawa Agenda, 22 School Lane, Westlands, Nairobi (2026)

05/10/2026

This World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the teachers who show up every day to nurture learning, build confidence and shape the futures of Kenya’s children. 📚✏️

The 2026 FLANA report findings remind us that teachers are central to learning outcomes. Yet, the evidence also highlights the conditions under which they work:

📌 “Nationally, there are 41 learners per teacher in primary schools.”
📌“Public primary schools have a higher learner-to-teacher ratio of 42 learners to one teacher.”
📌“In rural public primary schools, there is one permanently employed TSC teacher for every 45 learners,” compared with 68 learners for every permanently employed TSC teacher in urban public primary schools.

The report further finds that “2 in 5 teachers attended in-service training in the past two years.”

These findings are a reminder that celebrating teachers must go hand in hand with investing in their professional development, ensuring adequate staffing and creating the conditions they need to support every learner.

To every teacher: thank you for being at the heart of learning.
This World Teachers’ Day, let us commit to an education system that supports teachers so they can support every child.

29/09/2026

This team is cooking something transformative. Keep your eyes and ears open. An invitation to let you in is coming your way very soon.

26/09/2026

𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬

"If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society's heroes." — 𝐆𝐮𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐢

As Usawa Agenda, we are honoured to join teachers today in Embu to celebrate their impact in our lives

23/09/2026

Young Africans have ideas, energy and a strong desire to shape the future. What they also need are the knowledge, practical skills, networks and opportunities to turn that energy into meaningful action.

Usawa Agenda is proud to join the ONE Campaign in celebrating the launch of ONE Academy, a platform created to help young Africans understand the issues that matter to them, build practical advocacy skills and participate meaningfully in shaping change.
We are especially excited that Foundational Learning Advocacy is the Academy’s first flagship course, initially focusing on Kenya and Senegal. As an organisation advancing education justice in Kenya, we believe that strengthening young people’s capacity to understand evidence, engage decision-makers and advocate for better education systems is essential.

Together, let us equip a generation to move from learning to action, and from action to influence.

Congratulations to ONE Campaign on the launch of ONE Academy. We look forward to the journey ahead.

21/09/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

On this International Day of Peace, we recognise the powerful role education plays in building peaceful and just societies.
When schools are safe, welcoming and equitable, they become more than places of learning, they become spaces where children learn respect, empathy and peaceful coexistence.
But achieving this requires an education system that leaves no child behind. Every learner deserves a safe learning environment, equal opportunities and the support they need to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
At Usawa Agenda, our commitment to education justice is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and flourish.
𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱.

Gates Foundationdation Imaginable Futures - Africa International Rescue Committee Emmanuel Manyasa PAL Network Ministry of Education - Kenya TSC KENYA SDGs Kenya Forum Parliament of Kenya

18/09/2026

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀

Usawa Agenda, with its partners across the 47 counties of Kenya, has embarked on a countrywide training of volunteers for the 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗔𝗦𝗥) Project.

The project, conducted in partnership with Pratham International, seeks to develop and localise an AI-powered ASR–based literacy assessment tool tailored to the Kenyan context, enabling accurate, scalable, and real-time measurement of children’s reading abilities.
The project builds on 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝗔𝗜-𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 (𝗔𝗜-𝗧𝗮𝗥𝗟) 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹, which integrates ASR technology to assess reading fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension.

The aim is to generate a large-scale, high-quality dataset of children’s speech that reflects Kenya’s linguistic diversity. Usawa Agenda will also develop and validate an ASR model adapted to Kenyan English and Kiswahili, capable of accurately recognising children’s reading patterns.

The volunteers are being trained on data gathering processes in compliance with the 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵) and relevant ethical research guidelines.
Pratham International Gates Foundation Echidna Giving Imaginable Futures Porticus Regional Education Learning Initiative- RELI Africa PAL Network

𝗨𝘀𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗯-𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗦𝗥 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
1. 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮 Tubonge Youth Initiative Community Based Organisation
2. 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗲 Kwale Youth and Governance Consortium
3. 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶 Wezesha Jamii Community Based Organisation
4. 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 Delta Voices Youth Group
5. 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝘂 Muslim Women Advancement of Right and Protection
6. 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗮/𝗧𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗮 Taveta Children Assistant
7. 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 Women Education and Health for Development
8. 𝗪𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗿 Jalalaqa Self Help Group
9. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮 Humanitarian International Voluntary Association
10. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 Pastoralist Education Smart Adaptation Programme
Pastoralist Action for Development
11. 𝗜𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼 Girl Concern Community Based Organisation
12. 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝘂 Meru Peace Initiative
13. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮-𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶 Chuka Youth Information Centre
14. Embu Partners in Art & Contemporary Development
15. 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗶 Kitui Network for Sustainable Development
16. 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘀 Tuboreshe Pamoja Community Based Organisation
17. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗶 Makueni Youth Network
18. 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗮 Initiative for Cares and Empowerment Support
19. 𝗡𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗶 Inspire Children and Youth Organisation
20. 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗮 Sagana Disabled People Self Help Group
21. 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴’𝗮 Go Economic Empowernment Programme
22. 𝗞𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂 Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO)
23. 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮 Alemun Pastoralists Empowerment Programme
Asegis Community Network
24. 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘁 Yangat Community Development Programme
25. 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘂 Samburu Women Empowerment Integrated Programme
26. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝘇𝗼𝗶𝗮 Save Africa Community Based Organisation
27. 𝗨𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘂 Read and Run Community Based Organisation
28. 𝗘𝗹𝗴𝗲𝘆𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗸𝘄𝗲𝘁 Logogo Youth Group
29. 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶 Kapsoogaa Self Help Group
30. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗼 Central Rift Community Development
31. 𝗟𝗮𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗮 Pioneer Child Development Programme
32. 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝘂 Central Rift Community Development
33. 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗸 Enkishon Sidai Africa
34. 𝗞𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗮𝗱𝗼 Dupoto Emaa Olkejuado Pastoralists Development Organisation
35. 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼 Rays of Hope Kenya
36. 𝗕𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁 Kapletundo Community Organisation
37. 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗴𝗮 Kakamega County Women Empowerment Programme
38. 𝗩𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮 Magharibi Community Based Organisation
39. 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗺𝗮 Forum for Art in Community Development
40. 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗮 Butula Neighbours Keeper Education Trust
41. 𝗦𝗶𝗮𝘆𝗮 Siaya Muungano Network
42. 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗺𝘂 Magunga Footsteps Child Support Group
43. 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘆 Victoria Agricultural & Environmental Organisation
44. 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶 Komotobo Mission Station
45. 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗶 Vines Kenya
46. 𝗡𝘆𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮 Vines Kenya
47. 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶 Sifa Children Welfare Association
Youth Initiative Kenya
Vision Empowerment Trust

11/09/2026

Kenya’s PISA 2025 results offer us an important opportunity to pause, reflect and act.

The findings point to significant challenges in learners’ proficiency in science, mathematics and reading, areas that are fundamental to meaningful participation in an increasingly complex world. The OECD reports that only 16% of learners in Kenya attained the minimum Level 2 proficiency in science.

At Usawa Agenda, these findings reinforce what our own evidence has been telling us: access to school must go hand in hand with meaningful learning.

Our Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (FLANA) has consistently examined not only whether children are in school, but whether they are acquiring the foundational skills they need to progress. The latest evidence shows that while foundational literacy has marginally improved, numeracy has stagnated, with inequalities in learning outcomes continuing to shape the experiences of many children.

Kenya has made important strides in expanding access to education and implementing curriculum reforms. The task before all of us - government, educators, communities, parents, researchers, development partners and civil society, is to ensure that these investments translate into better learning outcomes for every child, regardless of where they are born or the school they attend.

At Usawa Agenda, we remain committed to generating and communicating credible evidence, supporting constructive dialogue, and working with stakeholders to advance education justice and a quality education for every child.

The PISA results are not a verdict on our children. They are evidence. And evidence allows us to do better.

Daily Nation: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/education/poor-global-test-scores-expose-learning-gaps-in-kenya-55…

08/09/2026

Today marks another important step in our AI in Teaching at the Right Level (AI-TaRL) journey in Kenya, in collaboration with Pratham International.

Following the successful completion of our Master Trainers’ Workshop, where participants strengthened their knowledge and skills to support the next stages of the initiative, today our annotation team is taking part in a focused training session as we continue building the capacity required for implementation.

Each of these steps brings us closer to ensuring that the technology being developed is informed by and responsive to the Kenyan context.

Why does this matter? For technology to meaningfully support learning, it must be grounded in an understanding of Kenya’s diverse languages, classrooms and learning realities.

The AI-TaRL initiative is exploring how technology can be adapted to support foundational learning in Kiswahili and Kenyan English, while recognising the diversity of contexts in which children learn.

At Usawa Agenda, we are bringing our experience in foundational learning assessment, research, and understanding of the Kenyan education context to this collaboration, helping to ensure that the solutions developed are relevant, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.

Ultimately, AI-TaRL is about exploring how technology can support and strengthen teachers, not replace them, and contribute to more responsive approaches to foundational learning.

08/09/2026

Literacy is not just about reading. It is also about inequality, opportunity and power.

On this International Literacy Day 2026, our Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa, reflects on why literacy must be understood as much more than the ability to read and write.

Strong foundational literacy is essential for children to learn effectively, access information, participate meaningfully in society and navigate an increasingly complex world. Yet unequal access to quality education means that those who most need strong foundational learning are often the ones most likely to be left behind.

As the world marks International Literacy Day under the theme “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity,” the conversation must go beyond examinations and certificates. We must ask: Who has access to literacy? Who is being left behind? And what does this mean for their future?

We invite you to read the full article and join the conversation on why literacy is ultimately about opportunity and power.

Read the full article in the Daily Nation: https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/literacy-not-just-about-reading-it-also-entails-ine…

08/09/2026

Happy International Literacy Day 2026.

Today, under the theme “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity,” we are reminded that literacy is a powerful foundation for individual dignity, meaningful participation and shared prosperity.

Literacy enables children and adults to access information, understand their rights, make informed decisions, participate in their communities and navigate an increasingly complex world. It also equips people with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to a more sustainable future.

At Usawa Agenda, we believe that every learner deserves the opportunity to develop strong foundational literacy skills through quality and equitable education.

As we mark this day, let us renew our commitment to ensuring that no learner is left behind, not because of where they live, their circumstances or their background.

Literacy for people. Literacy for the planet. Literacy for prosperity. Literacy for ALL.

Usawa Agenda

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