Skip to content
Phase 3 · 2024

Going localin Kilifi.

Four months, all 7 sub counties, one county. We trained local Data Champions and took Ficha Uchi to boda boda stages, women’s groups and youth hangouts, in Swahili and Giriama.

Amani with arms crossed and a confident smile

When

September to December 2024

Where

All 7 sub counties of Kilifi

Format

Data Champions, community sessions, radio, murals

Partners

Thellesi Trust, Maono Space, Lulu FM, SBS

By the numbers

Phase 3 at a glance

The numbers from the final report.

359

people trained in person

12

community sessions

7

sub counties

1.7M

people reached, online and on radio

Before we started

What people knew

We asked all 359 participants a few questions before each session.

59%

weren’t sure what personal data is

59%

didn’t know their data rights

91%

don’t report scams

87%

had never heard of the ODPC

What we did

Five ways we showed up

Data Champions training at Maono Space, Malindi
Activity 1

Data Champions

Maono Space, Malindi

We trained 6 local changemakers over two days, led by Christine Ajulu of Open Institute. They know their communities, speak their language and are trusted.

Data Champion leading a community session
Activity 2

Community sessions

12 sessions, 359 people

The Champions ran sessions for 120 boda boda riders, 119 women and 120 young people, using stories and role play instead of slides.

Data Champions at Lulu FM studios
Activity 3

On air every Friday

Lulu FM and SBS

Weekly talk shows at 5pm through September and October, hosted by the Data Champions, plus hourly announcements. Listeners called in with their own scam stories.

Boda boda riders wearing Ficha Uchi reflectors
Activity 4

Merch that starts conversations

Boda boda stages, matatus, tuktuks

200 reflectors for boda boda riders, 200 wristbands and stickers on public transport. People kept asking: what does Ficha Uchi mean?

Ficha Uchi mural at Maono Space, Malindi
Activity 5

Murals, videos and Ruby Kache

Malindi, Kilifi and online

Two murals in Malindi and Kilifi towns, Giriama and Swahili videos, and Giriama influencer Ruby Kache, whose videos reached 150,000+ people.

Where we went

7 sub counties, 14 stops

Two locations in every sub county, picked for a mix of ages and jobs.

Malindi Malindi Town
Magarini Gongoni
Kilifi North Watamu and Kiwandani
Kilifi South Mwarakaya and Chasimba
Rabai Ruruma and Kisurutini
Kaloleni Kayafungo and Kaloleni
Ganze Matano Manne and Dzifahe

Moments

Kilifi in pictures

Community session under the trees in Kilifi
Community session under the trees
Ficha Uchi wristbands
Ficha Uchi wristbands
Data Champions in Ficha Uchi vests
Data Champions in Ficha Uchi vests
Talk show at SBS radio
Talk show at SBS radio
Street interview in Kilifi
Street interview in Kilifi
Giriama video for Facebook and TikTok
Giriama video for Facebook and TikTok

Campaign artworks

Seen on Kilifi timelines

Scam stories people actually live through, in Sheng and Swahili.

Ficha Uchi poster: Makunguru wametegea DATA yako
Ficha Uchi poster: Rudia sentensi hii kimoyomoyo
Ficha Uchi poster: Leakage ndio hii
Ficha Uchi poster: Tuko radaaa na wewe
Ficha Uchi poster: Mimi hushindwa
Ficha Uchi poster: Kamilisha sentensi
Ficha Uchi poster: Mimi nimeficha uchi
Ficha Uchi poster: Pesa yote imeenda
See and download all artworks

What people told us

In their words

“Si wewe ndio ulipeana information yako mwenyewe?”

Weren’t you the one who gave out your own information?

What victims say police told them, Kilifi 2024
“It is embarrassing.”
Why residents don’t talk about being scammed, Kilifi 2024
“Je, tunahakikishaje usalama wa taarifa hizi zinazochukuliwa kwenye mageti?”

How can we make sure the information collected at gates is safe?

Kilifi North, 2024

What we learned

Three things
that stuck.

Amani raising one finger, about to correct someone
1

Local language wins

Giriama videos reached 64,000 people on Facebook alone. Vernacular content builds trust and gets people talking.

2

Locals beat outsiders

Data Champions knew the culture and were trusted, so the message stuck and kept spreading after the sessions.

3

Victims get blamed

People are turned away or shamed when they report scams, so most stay quiet and the problem stays invisible.

The people

Who made it happen

Christine AjuluTrainer, Open Institute
Roseline NgalaData Champion
Polly WachiraData Champion
Tobias MwarabuData Champion
Ruby KacheGiriama influencer

The full report

Get the Phase 3 report

Every number, every county and every recommendation in one PDF. Free to download and share.

Download PDF PDF, 13.9 MB, 24 pages
Mudata pointing to the side