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Meet the Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

Karen Anyona, member of the WYDE Political Parties Youth Advisory Board

From environmental justice to grassroots democracy, Karen Anyona believes political leadership begins by listening to communities and turning civic action into public policy. As a member of the WYDE Political Parties Youth Advisory Board, she shares why young leaders must move beyond protest to shape the decisions that define their future.

For Karen Anyona, politics begins where everyday life is lived. As Chairperson of the Athi River Social Justice Centre and an aspiring Member of the County Assembly in Kenya’s Athi River Ward, she has spent years working alongside communities affected by industrial expansion, environmental degradation and unequal access to opportunities.

Rather than seeing activism and politics as separate worlds, Karen believes they must reinforce one another. Community organising identifies problems; political leadership creates the policies needed to solve them.

Now serving as Co-Whip of the United Green Movement (UGM) Young Aspirants League and as a member of the WYDE Political Parties Youth Advisory Board, she is committed to building a model of leadership that combines environmental responsibility, grassroots participation and accountable governance.

“Activism fights symptoms. Political power transforms laws.“

From activism to public office

Karen explains that her decision to enter politics grew naturally from years of community activism.

Working through the Athi River Social Justice Centre, she saw how campaigns could raise awareness about industrial pollution, environmental degradation and social injustice, but lasting change ultimately required political decision-making.

For her, standing for public office represents the opportunity to move from reacting to problems towards creating fair, community-led policies that respond directly to citizens’ needs.

Environmental sustainability is therefore not a separate political issue but part of a broader vision of accountable governance.

Beyond token youth participation

Karen argues that many young Africans continue to face structural barriers to political participation. Beyond the financial costs of campaigns, she points to discrimination, exclusion and political systems that often treat young people as campaign volunteers rather than genuine decision-makers.

Drawing from her own experience as a Luo woman running for office in Athi River Ward, she reflects on the challenges created by ethnic politics and believes leadership should always be based on competence and public service rather than identity. For this reason, she advocates political parties where young people help design policy instead of simply mobilising support during elections.

“Youth are not just voters. They should be co-architects of public policy.“

A new message to political leadership

According to Karen, African politics is entering a new moment.

Across the continent, young people are increasingly organising through civic movements, digital platforms and local initiatives to demand accountability from public institutions.

Rather than asking to be accommodated within existing political structures, many young leaders are building new forms of participation centred on transparency, environmental responsibility and community leadership.

Why Karen remains optimistic

Despite the challenges, Karen remains optimistic. She sees growing civic awareness among grassroots communities, particularly among young people who increasingly monitor local budgets, engage with public institutions and organise around issues affecting their communities. Her experience as both an entrepreneur and a human rights defender has also shaped her understanding of leadership. Managing a business has taught her practical problem-solving and economic resilience, while her work in human rights has reinforced the importance of protecting public resources, environmental justice and citizen participation.

Together, these experiences define the kind of leadership she hopes to bring into public office.

“Power is finally returning to the hands of ordinary citizens.”

About Karen Anyona

Karen Anyona is a member of the WYDE Political Parties Youth Advisory Board, Chairperson of the Athi River Social Justice Centre, Co-Whip of the United Green Movement (UGM) Young Aspirants League, and an aspiring Member of the County Assembly for Athi River Ward, Machakos County, Kenya. Through her work, she advocates for grassroots democracy, environmental justice and meaningful youth participation in political decision-making.

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