There is a famous that “real power belongs to the people” and that “A people united can never be defeated.” AAE has been in the forefront to champion for community empowerment. Through community dialogues, dubbed ‘Peoples Assembly” AAE has enabled the community air their development grievances to the county and national governments for redress.

To mark the global call for action again poverty (Gcap 2021) People assembly was carried out in Mbooni, Makueni county. The activity was aimed at:

1. Creating awareness of SDGs and GCAP Week activities,
2. holding People’s Assembly on Health, Social Protection and Climate Justice,
3. Giving Inputs on the situation in light of COVID-19, loss of lives, vaccination, social protection and livelihood, SDGs and on Leave No One Behind and Inequalities
4. Holding community dialogue with leaders and agreement of key demands and statement

A List of demand were raised by the community for action by the county government, Through A Letter of Action to HE the Governor and area MCA

• Vaccines for All; increase access to immunization so as to reach at least 60% of people across all country
• Healthy Food Systems
• PWDs expressed their grievances on lost incomes and difficulties in getting water in the on-going drought in the area
• Clean water for All; cost of getting water has become more expensive than the cost of getting food. The local leaders expressed their frustrations in enforcing the rule of hand-washing while the community lacked enough water for domestic use and even their livestock
• End the suffering; due to the water shortage, residents are travelling up to five kilometers to fetch drinking water. Women shared on lost livelihoods due to the pandemic and the pains of accessing water during the on-going drought
• Zero hunger; De-siltation of the Utuneni and Kinze earth dams which were the only sources of water in the area