KISUMU COUNTY, Kenya –In an innovative blend of culture and digital empowerment, a Kisumu-based NGO is turning a local delicacy into a vital tool that will unlock the digital world for marginalised women and girls.
The Grassroots Trust for Community Organisation in Kenya has announced a unique fish-eating competition, scheduled for the 6th of December 2025, aimed at raising Sh1 million to establish women-focused ICT hubs in the city’s informal settlements and the rural sub-counties of Seme and Muhoroni.
This initiative is a direct response to a glaring digital divide despite the organisation’s previous establishment of ICT hubs in areas like Obunga, Kondele and Manyatta.
“In the past, where we have set up ICT hubs, we noticed that mainly men come forward to seek services,” revealed Lawrence Apiyo, Coordinator of Grassroots Trust.
The new hubs will be intentionally designed as safe, welcoming, and women-friendly spaces, specifically aimed at dismantling the socio-economic and cultural barriers that have historically kept women from accessing technology and information.
The hubs are envisioned as more than just rooms with computers; they are springboards for economic and personal freedom.
The program specifically targets women in small-scale trades, from clothing and groceries to the central fish trade, showing them how digital tools can directly transform their livelihoods.
“We want to raise the funds needed to establish a modern ICT hub that specifically targets women in the informal settlements,” Apiyo explained.
The goal is to empower these entrepreneurs to adopt digital tools to reach more customers and increase their earnings.
Beyond offering workspace, the hubs will provide structured training, ranging from basic computer literacy to the advanced digital skills required in modern commerce.
This will directly promote the fundamental right to access information by equipping women with the ability to find market prices, connect with suppliers online, use digital payment platforms and leverage social media for marketing information that is critical for business growth.
With international donor support dwindling, the Grassroots Trust is turning inwards, harnessing the power of the community.
The fish-eating competition is a masterstroke in local resource mobilisation, deeply rooted in the heritage of Lake Victoria communities.
“This competition is many-fold,” Apiyo said. “We want to conserve Lake Victoria, promote our local culture, and at the same time raise the funds.”
He emphasised the deep connection between the community and the lake, noting that fish have been a source of livelihood in the region.
By using this cultural cornerstone as a fundraising tool, the event rallies the entire community behind the cause of women’s empowerment.
The proceeds from the community-driven event will be directed toward purchasing computers, internet routers, and other essential ICT equipment, placing the power of technology directly into the hands of those who need it most.
“This is our home, if we don’t step forward to support women and youth in Kisumu, no one will do it for us,” Apiyo asserted.
This project stands as a testament to a growing movement where communities are taking charge of their own development, ensuring that women and girls are no longer passive bystanders but active participants in the digital age, with full access to the information that is their right.
