Jane Anyango Odongo is a Kenyan activist for peace and for women's and girls' rights.[1][2][3][4][5] She is a grassroots activist and peacemaker, residing in one of the largest slums in Kenya.[4] She is known for mobilizing hundreds of women who helped mitigate post election violence in the elections of 2007 and 2013. Her strategy included using women's influence on the men causing the violence, her slogan ' get the fighting men to stop the violence'.She is the founder and director of the Polycom Development Project, which empowers girls and young women in the Kibera slum area.[6] The project focuses on topics such as hygiene, climate change, cohesion, grassroots organzining, amongst others.[7] Her main outcome in the long run is to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 10, reducing inequalities.In 2010 Peace X Peace organisation gave her its Community Peacebuilder Award.[8]
In 2016 she was one of four women invited to University of San Diego for two months on its annual Women PeaceMakers scheme.[9]
Early life and career
Born in Nairobi, Kenya March 17, 1970, Anyango moved to Kibera in 1989. In response to the violence resulting from the 2007 Kenyan Presidential election, Anyango organized women in Kibera to protest against the violence. Shortly after, the organization "Kibera Women for Peace" was created.
^"Jane Anyango". Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. University of San Diego. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
^"Our Team". Polycom Development Project. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
