By Neema Mujesia,
At the Policy Hackathon held during the KenSafeSpace Workshop in Mombasa, grassroots innovators from across Kenya came together to tackle pressing digital policy challenges. The hackathon attracted 141 applicants from Kenyan Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, and Mombasa, of which 15 were shortlisted, and finally 3 winners emerged with bold, practical solutions to advance safe and inclusive digital spaces.
Winner – Policy Action Initiative
(Policy Action Initiative)
Project: #NetSafi – Safeguarding Kenya’s Digital Democracy
Responding to rising misinformation on Facebook and WhatsApp, low voter turnout, and policy gaps in Kenya’s cyber laws, the Policy Action Initiative introduced Youth Digital Watch Cells in Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu. Youth monitors will fact-check, respond to disinformation, and co-create a National Roadmap on Electoral Disinformation with stakeholders such as IEBC, CA, and Parliament.
Impact Goal: Reduce misinformation by 30%, boost voter trust, and strengthen electoral participation.
Prize: EUR 4,000.
1st Runner-Up – SEYA Youth Organization:
(SEYA Youth Organization)
Project:Civic Digital Inclusion Policy Lab
With a decade of work in digital rights, SEYA tackled the exclusion of youth with disabilities from Kenya’s digital civic space. Their solution builds an inclusive policy framework, integrates digital literacy, and promotes advocacy partnerships to safeguard marginalized voices and strengthen democratic participation.
Impact Goal: Amplify youth and women with disabilities, reduce online harms, and improve accountability in digital governance.
Prize: EUR 3,000.
2nd Runner-Up – Y+ Kenya (National Network of Young People Living With and Affected by HIV)
Y+ Kenya (National Network of Young People Living With and Affected by HIV)
Project:Youth Digital Safety Tool
As the national network for young people living with and affected by HIV, Y+ Kenya developed the Youth Digital Safety Toolkit to close gaps in translating Kenya’s digital protection laws into youth-friendly practice. The project includes policy dialogues with regulators, community sensitization in schools and health facilities, and the training of 20 Youth Digital Safety Champions in Mombasa. A chatbot/USSD code for safe reporting and evidence upload was also launched, with plans to reach 2,000+ adolescents and young people both online and offline.
Impact Goal: Protect young people from online harassment that fuels HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and GBV, while empowering them to safely engage in civic and digital spaces.
Prize: EUR 2,000.
Why It Matters
From 141 applications to 15 shortlisted projects and 3 winners, the hackathon showcased the creativity, resilience, and expertise of Kenyan CBOs and CSOs working at the grassroots in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, and Mombasa. Together, the winning initiatives demonstrate how policy innovation, youth leadership, and multistakeholder collaboration can transform Kenya’s digital spaces into safer, fairer, and more inclusive arenas for all.