TWWP COORDINATORS PROFILE

Aniceta Kiriga is the Founder and Program Coordinator of Tharaka Women Welfare Programme (TWWP).  She has over 30 years of experience working with communities, including leaders, girls, women, boys and men. She has extensive experience in community development projects, awareness and mobilization activities. She is a pioneer woman of girls and women empowerment, in a society that is predominantly patriarchal.

Aniceta is overall responsible for managing the organization and setting policy objectives. She also spearheads fundraising efforts and establishing partnerships with local and foreign donors to support her community projects. She has partnered with several organizations including, the Ford Foundation, Global Fund for Women, Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, Plan International, Save the Children Canada, and Women’s Global Educational Project.

Aniceta is widely regarded as a pioneer woman of many firsts. In 1991, she became the first woman from her community to become the Vice-Chairperson of the Meru District Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization, the largest organization for women in Kenya. Based on her extensive grassroot engagement with communities during her time as the Vice-Chairperson, Aniceta identified Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as the single-most factor that contributed to high levels of school dropouts among young girls. In response to this, Aniceta worked on identifying alternative ways in which girls could be nurtured and celebrated into womanhood, without going through the harmful practices of FGM.

In 1996, using her great mobilization skills, she brought together several like-minded women and formed Ntanira Na Mugambo group (Circumcision through Words).  Ntanira Na Mugambo launched the first ever Alternative Rite of Passage in Kenya. During this ARP 30 girls graduated into womanhood. This ceremony was endorsed and supported by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, local leaders and other development partners. Through these efforts, Ntanira Na Mugambo advocated against FGM and brought down FGM prevalence rate in the Tharaka community from 99% to a record low of 45%. Due to its success, the ARP model has been replicated in FGM practicing communities in Kenya.

In 1997, Aniceta became the first Chairperson of the Tharaka District Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization.

In 2005 Aniceta, recognizing the need to support education among girls and women for total empowerment, transformed Ntanira Na Mugambo into Tharaka Women Welfare Program. The activities of the program diversified to include other components supporting young girls and women to access education. She has partnered with several individuals and organizations, such as the Women’s Global Education Project, to support girls through scholarship programs. TWWP has supported over 400 girls to go to school, in a society that otherwise never educated their girls and women. In addition, over 1000 women have had access to adult literacy programs.

Aniceta has also partnered with other organizations from the US to support livelihood and income generating projects for women through weaving of kiondos and sourcing for markets for these products. As a result, women have increased financial independence to support their families.

In 2006, Aniceta was recognized and honoured with a Presidential award, The Head of State Commendation (HSC) for her efforts and contribution to the society.

In 2014, Aniceta was elected as the first County Chairperson – Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization

In the same year, she was awarded the Inspirational Woman of the year award – Tharaka Nithi County by the National Gender and Equality Commission for her exception work in advocating for Girls and Women’s rights.

Aniceta has attended several girls and women forums as a keynote speaker to discuss girls and women’s rights in Kenya, and the United States. In 2014, Aniceta was a guest speaker at the Ndajee Donors Conference in Chicago organized by Women’s Global Education Project. In 2014, she attended a leader’s training at Wisconsin University and held discussions with the students on creative thinking on the challenges faced by her community.

In 2019, she attended the Obama Foundation summit and participated in Girl’s Opportunity Alliance round table forum with Michelle Obama.

She later attended International Women Associates (IWA) Chicago 2019 Women Extraordinaire Award Luncheon where she introduced the WGEP Executive Director who was being awarded.