Turning Lived Experience into Climate Intelligence in Siaya

At Ushahidi, we believe that lived experience is data and that community knowledge must shape how we respond to the climate crisis. That belief is now guiding our newest partnership in Siaya County, Kenya, where we’ve launched a pilot project to strengthen climate resilience using our new data collection platform, Distant Voices.

This project, implemented in collaboration with Kijiji Yeetu and with support from GIZ Kenya’s Digital Transformation Centre, builds on Ushahidi’s long-standing commitment to inclusive technology. It also draws lessons from our earlier work in Kenya (Tana River County), Nigeria (Oyo, Ondo, and Osun States), and Uganda (Yumbe District), where local communities helped define and drive climate adaptation efforts through participatory data collection.

 

Why Siaya?

Siaya County is particularly vulnerable to climate shocks. At our inception meetings, community leaders and municipal officials emphasized that climate change drivers here are uniquely localized, differing from other counties in Kenya. In both rural and peri-urban areas of the county, activities such as sand harvesting, charcoal making, brick making, stone crushing, and gold mining significantly contribute to environmental degradation and climate vulnerability.

Kijiji Yeetu also highlighted Siaya’s transboundary nature due to its proximity to Busia and Kakamega Counties, which further compounds the complexity of the region’s climate issues.

In Ugunja Municipality, officials spoke of persistent flooding, blocked drainage systems, and poor waste management, particularly in market centers and densely populated areas. These risks are worsened by rapid urban expansion and limited municipal capacity to keep up with infrastructural needs.

“We know the issues exist, but our current data is outdated or incomplete. This platform can help us listen better and act smarter,” one county official shared.

Ushahidi team with Ugunja Municipal County officials and Kijiji Yeetu staff

 

Bridging the Data Gap

A recurring concern from both meetings was the lack of up-to-date, verifiable, and community-informed data. While the effects of climate change are visible across Siaya, from collapsed drainage systems to unsustainable land use, there is little consolidated evidence about the scope and lived experiences of the most affected populations.

The Ushahidi Distant Voices technology presents an opportunity to fill these evidence gaps by enabling residents to report climate risks through channels they already trust and use, such as WhatsApp and Facebook groups.

 

What We're Doing

Over the next few weeks, Ushahidi and Kijiji Yeetu will work closely to surface the most relevant local insights:

• Monitor social media and community messaging platforms for relevant climate discussions
• Co-create survey questions and keywords tailored to local realities
• Publish surveys across accessible platforms
• Validate and analyze the collected data
• Co-author a final report summarizing key trends and policy recommendations

In early December, we will host a validation workshop in Siaya with 30 participants, including youth, women, persons with disabilities, local leaders, and county officials. This forum will enable stakeholders to review the findings, verify the insights, and propose practical next steps.

Ushahidi Team with Kijiji Yeetu staff at their offices

 

From Voice to Action

Ugunja Ward officials were candid in their reflections: “Planning has been too theoretical. We need actionable, grounded inputs to guide implementation.” They emphasized the implementation gap between development plans (like the Ugunja Integrated Development Plan) and what is practically happening on the ground.

Community members and ward leaders also emphasised the low levels of awareness and behavioural change regarding environmental issues, calling for sustained efforts in climate education and sensitization.

Both Kijiji Yeetu and Ugunja Municipality expressed strong interest in using the Distant Voices outputs to inform county policies, especially the Siaya County Climate Change Action Plan (2023–2028). They also committed to supporting linkages with community-based organizations and ward-level environmental groups.

 

Looking Ahead

This project is about more than data collection. It’s about restoring trust, centering community agency, and ensuring that citizen-generated data informs real decisions.

As we move forward, we’ll share stories from the field, emerging trends from the data, and reflections from local stakeholders. We hope this work will provide a compelling model for how civic technology can amplify the voices of marginalized communities in climate governance in Siaya and beyond.