The Journey to Our New Era of Community Leadership

Two years ago, we set out on a journey with a simple dream: to create a space where changemakers could come together, network, and work on the things that mattered most to them. Back then, we had no idea what Maono would grow into. Fast forward to today, and we’ve become a buzzing community of over 700 members and more than 50 community-based organizations, each contributing their unique energy and ideas. But this growth hasn’t been without its challenges.

When we first started, Maono was a space filled with excitement. Change makers showed up in large quantities from Malindi and others from across Kilifi County. Our meetings and events were filled with passionate discussions, new collaborations and a sense of shared purpose. Discussions from these interactions planted seeds of taking action that led to the birth of collaborative events and even formation of new community based organizations that have grown ever since

But over time, we started experiencing issues that threaten our hard earned progress. One of the biggest challenges we encountered was communication. Having so many members and organizations, information was getting lost in between.This created room for misunderstandings becoming more frequent which strained our relationships

In addition to this was the often overlooked group dynamics Our CBO community members nominated a committee that led us for a year. But with no clear guidelines, this arrangement  came with its own set of challenges.  There was confusion of who is playing which role, a  lack of tracking projects in an organized manner, and new members unaware who was responsible for what in the committee. Frustrations and misunderstandings increased which made it difficult to align our efforts  toward impacting our communities in a meaningful way.

Deciding to come up with clear guidelines was necessitated by our experiences. Even though we worried that  introducing more rules would kill our spontaneity that made our space special, the alternative of moving forward without clear structure was unsustainable.

In response, we recognized the importance of transparency and the need for every voice to be heard. We invited representatives of CBO leaders to discuss what this structure would look like. With the aim to ensure all our efforts are aligned to make a real impact, we developed a comprehensive guideline that outlines everything from member registration to meeting protocols and the election process for our management committee team. 

In August, we invited representatives from our CBOs community  for this important conversation. The room was filled with anticipation and hope as everyone gathered, knowing that this was the beginning of something new. After hours of discussions, laughter, and some intense debates, we finally agreed. This document would serve as a shared vision for how we could all work together, make decisions, and support each other. 

Election day was exhilarating. One by one, each organization cast a single vote, making the elections both competitive and collaborative. You could feel the energy in the room of nervous excitement mixed with a deep sense of responsibility. It was inspiring to see changemakers from different backgrounds come together, united by a common goal to make Maono a space where every voice counts. The result of this exercise was a diverse and dynamic leadership team that truly represents the spirit of Maono.

We hereby proudly  introduce our Maono Leadership Team:

Chairperson: Rose Ngala from Shella Environmental Youth Group, whose calm but firm leadership will guide us. She will ensure that our community’s vision and goals are aligned. Her role will be to ensure all voices are heard particularly in decision making.

Vice Chairperson: Patience Salama, President of the Rotaract Club of Malindi, bringing her vibrant energy and dedication. She will support Rose in her duties and act as the bridge between the leadership team and the community.

Secretary: Esther Gamema from Lit Initiative, whose attention to detail will keep us organized. She will be handling all administrative tasks from scheduling meetings to documenting decisions in the committee and tracking projects progress. Her role will help in ensuring communication flows smoothly and that all members are kept informed.

Committee Members: Victor Kaudo from Malindi Social Justice Center, and Lodger Ondieki from Malindi Sanaa, both passionate voices for justice and creativity. They will be responsible for representing the interests of different changemakers advocating for resources and supporting the team.

The Open Institute team will continue to provide support in finance and programs, ensuring that we have the resources and coordination to back our ambitious plans.

With this leadership team in place, we aim to tackle challenges that have held us back and grow to greater heights. The leadership team will also oversee resource allocation to fellow CBOs and ensure all initiatives are given a fair chance in order to create lasting impact in our community. What started as an uncertain dream has become a thriving community. We are more committed than ever to supporting change makers as they make a lasting impact in their communities.

As we move forward, we remain dedicated to being a space where every local changemaker feels a sense of belonging and inspiration. Together, we will expand our outreach, strengthen partnerships, and effectively support changemakers to address the most pressing issues in our community.

Here’s to a new era—one that ensures every voice is heard and every dream for a better community is realized.