Rachel Mwikali Leads 'Pussy Power' Movement in Mathare Slums.
Rachel Mwikali is a radical feminist. But she is also kind and caring to the poor in Mathare slums.
That's why she started the Pussy Power movement. She wants to help women at the grassroots level embrace their femininity. She says it can be a survival tool.
"When women are killed or abused, people often blame the victim," Mwikali says. "They ask why she was aggressive or dressed a certain way."
Mwikali wants women to be proud of their bodies. The name Pussy Power shows they embrace their anatomy. They can use it to fight for their rights.
But her movement is about more than just protests. It's about making Mathare better. They have street parties, clean up, share food and money, and stand together.
Mathare is a slum in Nairobi. About 500,000 people live there, making it one of the biggest and oldest slums in the city.
Last year, floods destroyed homes in Mathare. Mwikali's team set up a community kitchen. They served 500 hot meals a day for months.
"In Mathare, we are all poor and hungry," she said. "We help each other."
Mwikali was born and raised in Mathare. She faced abuse herself. At age 13, an older man sexually abused her. The community blamed her, not him.
She used this experience to become an activist. She speaks up for those who can't, and her reward is seeing justice for the powerless.
Mwikali wants to turn women's weaknesses into strengths. She says gender equality is a long but creative and determined fight.
In 2016, Mwikali won a global activism award. She sits on several international boards, but her heart is in Mathare, where she makes a difference for her community.
Rachel Mwikali is a radical feminist. But she is also kind and caring to the poor in Mathare slums.
That's why she started the Pussy Power movement. She wants to help women at the grassroots level embrace their femininity. She says it can be a survival tool.
"When women are killed or abused, people often blame the victim," Mwikali says. "They ask why she was aggressive or dressed a certain way."
Mwikali wants women to be proud of their bodies. The name Pussy Power shows they embrace their anatomy. They can use it to fight for their rights.
But her movement is about more than just protests. It's about making Mathare better. They have street parties, clean up, share food and money, and stand together.
Mathare is a slum in Nairobi. About 500,000 people live there, making it one of the biggest and oldest slums in the city.
Last year, floods destroyed homes in Mathare. Mwikali's team set up a community kitchen. They served 500 hot meals a day for months.
"In Mathare, we are all poor and hungry," she said. "We help each other."
Mwikali was born and raised in Mathare. She faced abuse herself. At age 13, an older man sexually abused her. The community blamed her, not him.
She used this experience to become an activist. She speaks up for those who can't, and her reward is seeing justice for the powerless.
Mwikali wants to turn women's weaknesses into strengths. She says gender equality is a long but creative and determined fight.
In 2016, Mwikali won a global activism award. She sits on several international boards, but her heart is in Mathare, where she makes a difference for her community.
