Evidence Mkononi: Putting the Power of Data Back into Community Hands
Across many communities, data is constantly being collected about people’s needs, challenges, and lived realities. Yet,…
WE ARE OPEN
Fostering open, informed communities where citizens actively engage with transparent governments for sustainable development.
the highlight reel
Introducing AI Mtaani!
For many communities in underserved and remote areas, artificial intelligence (AI) still feels out of reach. It is often seen as complex, technical, and disconnected from everyday realities.
So we asked ourselves a simple question: What if we brought AI to the grassroots and created a space where people could learn through real examples, hands-on demos, and familiar language rather than heavy technical jargon?
That question birthed AI Mtaani, our newest programme in Maono Space. Our goal is to make AI practical, accessible, and relevant to everyday life for 10,000 small business owners, 10,000 students, and 1,000 teachers across Kilifi County.
the highlight reel
Between the Truth and the Brown Envelope
Every so often, the work forces you to stop, take a breath, and admit what you’ve really seen. Over the past year, our teams from the Open Institute and the Association of Freelance Journalists have sat in many sessions with journalists in Kilifi County, listening to their stories, their frustrations, their dreams…
OUR BLOGS
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AI Mtaani: Making Artificial Intelligence Practical for Communities That Need it Most
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept, it is already shaping how we work, learn,…
Building Trust, Accountability, and Human Rights in East Africa’s Data Ecosystem
By Esther Njagi, Open Institute and Sharlene Muthuri, Amnesty International Kenya Amnesty International Kenya (AIK) and…
Navigating the Future of Data Governance in East Africa
Next week, policymakers, technologists, regulators, journalists, civil society leaders, and innovators will gather in Nairobi for…
A Studio for Stories That Refuse to Be Bought
On Wednesday 25th February 2026, we launched a podcast studio at Maono Space in Malindi, and…
Beyond the Brown Envelope: Rebuilding Trust in Kenya’s Media
The brown envelope is quietly reorganising Kenya’s journalism, deciding what stories get told and which ones…
AI Ethics Requires Participation: From Delhi to Kilifi
By Christine Ajulu In New Delhi, I joined a global conversation on designing rights-respecting AI systems.…
Journalism, Narrative Infrastructure, and Citizenship in Kilifi County: What We Learned from a Year of Working with Grassroots Journalists
Grassroots journalists in Kenya face an uphill battle. In counties like Kilifi, reporters navigate underfunded newsrooms,…
The Value of Time: Why Unpaid Domestic and Care Work Deserves a Place in Kenya’s Economy
If you were to count every hour spent preparing meals, cleaning homes, tending to children, or…
The Future of Devolution is Citizen-Led
Citizens in Kilifi met with their Governor and his cabinet to present their needs – with…
From Voice to Action: How Grassroots Citizens are Shaping Democracy in Kilifi
Every year on 15th September, the world pauses to mark the International Day of Democracy, a…
What Kenya’s Second Strategy for the Development of Statistics Must Deliver
In 2019, Kenya launched the first Kenya Strategy for the Development of Statistics (KSDS I) –…
