By Wahome Ngatia

Girl Child Network (GCN) continues to stand out as a powerful force in advocacy, particularly for people living with disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya. One of its most impactful achievements was lobbying for the Persons with Disabilities Bill, which was signed into law in 2018 by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta—a defining moment for the organization.

Dennis Mutiso, GCN’s Deputy Director, reflects on this victory as one of the most significant milestones in his 22-year career at the organization.

Pushing for Inclusive Education Policy

GCN’s journey began in 2016 when the team recognized the urgent need to revise the country’s disability inclusion policies, especially within the public education system. Their goal was clear: push for legislation that ensures accessible infrastructure like wheelchair-friendly buildings, inclusive curricula, special allowances for learners with disabilities, and professional standards for trainers of PWDs.

“We wanted the bill to establish not just policy—but enforceable standards,” says Mutiso.

Bringing stakeholders on board was no small feat. The process took more than 18 months and required navigating the often-siloed operations of government ministries. What began with consultations with the Ministry of Education expanded to include the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Planning, and the National Treasury.

GCN helped form a Technical Working Group that included other stakeholders such as UNICEF. Nathaniel Muthomi, a GCN staff member, served as the lead consultant, further showcasing GCN’s internal capacity and leadership.

Power of Collaboration

Mutiso emphasizes that policy change at this scale requires immense collaboration and funding. The coalition of organizations pooled resources to support nationwide research, expert consultation, and public school audits. The result? Today, thousands of Kenyan students with disabilities benefit from these reforms.

This groundbreaking advocacy work earned GCN the 2024 NGO Awards win in the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) category.

“We didn’t campaign for votes. We let our work speak for itself. Being recognized for two decades of impact was truly an honor,” said Mutiso.

National and Global Recognition

GCN is no stranger to accolades. Their past awards include the 2020 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education and the 2022 Commonwealth Education Award for Disability and Inclusion. But Mutiso says the NGO Award was especially meaningful because it focused specifically on civil society efforts.

“Most awards are tailored to the corporate sector. This one celebrated the true essence of nonprofit work,” he said, encouraging the awards organizers to continue expanding the categories in coming years.

Diversifying for Sustainability

Looking ahead, GCN is exploring a consulting arm to offer policy-making and advocacy expertise to partners and governments. This strategic move comes in response to a shrinking donor pool, worsened by Kenya’s reclassification as a lower-middle-income country, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Since 2014, we’ve seen a 30% drop in funding. NGOs in the Global South have been the hardest hit,” Mutiso noted.

Still, GCN retains the support of loyal institutional donors, including:

• Education Above All by the Qatari Foundation
• Christian Blind Mission backed by the German government’s BMZ
• Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UK Government)

Depending on funding levels, GCN’s annual turnover ranges from $1 million to $4 million, and its workforce fluctuates between 55 and 150 staff.

To manage talent in the face of funding variability, GCN maintains a strong alumni network. Former employees are often re-engaged when new projects arise.

Strengthening Partnerships and Looking Ahead

Since winning the 2024 NGO Award, GCN has received numerous partnership proposals from media and industry players. But the organization remains cautious, only aligning with partners who share its mission and values.

Currently, GCN is collaborating with GIZ, the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, and the Intersex Persons Society of Kenya to advocate for legal recognition and inclusion of intersex persons as Kenya’s constitution recognizes a third gender.

Mutiso, a University of Nairobi alumnus with a background in Public Administration and a Master’s in Project Planning and Management, remains passionate about the mission. While much of his time is spent at GCN, he cherishes every moment spent with his family.