Jennifer Soila

Program Associate, Land Environment and Climate Program, Nairobi, Kenya

My name is Jennifer Soila, a Maasai lady from Kajiado’s south Lokitokltok district. I am a holder of a diploma in community development and social work with about 4 years’ experience working with communities on issues of human rights and women’s empowerment. I joined Namati in June 2022 as a program associate under community land protection. In my support role, I provide general administrative support to the Community Land Protection Program, assist in internal and external report writing, edit memoranda, and provide general support, which is to review and supervise national partner organizations’ contracts and deliverables, among other responsibilities that are relevant to my role. I really value working with Namati since it has presented me with the best opportunity to do more to contribute towards women’s rights, human rights, and justice for local communities—work that I am so passionate about. Born and brought up in the Maasai community, the struggle for women and girls to secure their rights, participate in decision-making, and develop economically is real. Lack of legal education and awareness on gender equality and rights often holds women and local communities back from demanding their rights and accessing justice when their rights are violated. I have experience supporting programs and projects to deliver legal empowerment to women and local communities to access justice, and I have seen that this enables them to demand their rights and pursue justice in formal and informal institutions. I like traveling and volunteering in the community as a way of giving back to the community.