Engage & catalyse Christian religious organizations and individuals to be active and to Participate in Social Change
About Us
Participating in social accountability processes
Hatua Trust (Kenya) is a civil society organization that uniquely engages and catalyzes Christian organizations and individuals to actively participate in social accountability processes towards their local or national governments. Formally registered in 2012, Hatua began its operations in 2009 as a project based initiative , running programs in peace building, civic engagement for women and youth, forums that enabled clergy from different church networks to engage with local and national governments and the media on various civic issues. Kenya is currently implementing its new constitution passed in 2010 which will ensure that service delivery is adequate and that resources are utilized well .The Kenyan society continues to experience significant challenges in areas such as tribalism, corruption and selfish leadership which require active citizen participation.
The church, while influential in shaping the views and mindsets of its congregations, is largely ill equipped to engage in the complexity of civic processes. This could be due to large power distances, complex legislations, and complex processes in holding government accountable. Citizens are also as clueless. Hatua Trust develops biblically based materials that spur people to carry out their God given mandate to ensure that society is just and fair. The Trust holds forums that empower its different audiences within churches or church networks. Mainline denominations provide networks to mobilize large numbers of clergy, youth or women who take action to hold their civic leaders accountable.
A Just World
Our Story (The Broken Nation)
In 2007- 2008 following the general elections, Kenya experienced the Post-Election Violence where there was a complete breakdown of peace in the country leading to untold destruction and loss of lives. Nairobi Chapel, an evangelical congregation, carried out the Msafara Caravan, in which the Kenyan church was encouraged to donate Bibles and necessities to those affected. This seemed to be the only response from the church at the time. It was at this moment that Rev. Dr Linda felt the strong need to institute a social justice angle in the interventions of the church.
By 2009, the Hatua Curriculum had been authored and was being run as a class under Mavuno church. The Book was based on the theme of social justice as seen in the Old Testament.
In 2010, Rev. Dr Linda was invited to carry out civic education for religious leaders around the national land policy. Hatua Trust received a USD 20000 grant from Ford Foundation to engage church leaders in Eldoret. This was the first funding that catapulted the Hatua Initiative to formal registration as an organization. The team that accompanied Dr. Linda to Eldoret met with 100 clergy, mobilizing through the NCCK regional office and the Catholic Church.
A Just World
Our Story (The Broken Nation)
During the election period in 2012 – 2013 Rev. Dr Linda and Rev Adolwa on ran a program on peace building in areas. The main partner was the Anglican Church of Kenya who introduced the Hatua Program to their congregations. This is also the year that Hatua Trust was formally registered.
In 2014 Hatua Trust carried out a program on accelerating democratic participation for women. The program promoted the 30% Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) which is an affirmative action program for youth and women to access government procurement opportunities.
Through 2018 – 2019 Hatua Trust continued conducting public participation and social accountability programs with clergy, youth and women groups in different church networks.
A Just World
Our Response (What We Are Doing About It)
In response to the context, the 2021 -2025 strategic planning process reaffirmed the core elements, which include the vision, mission, and approaches of Hatua trust in achieving its mandate with a few necessary modifications.
Hatua Trust acknowledged the need to generate a more robust, conceptional framework, embedded in the reality of implementing social justice and social accountability work in an increasing undemocratic context, against a backdrop of dwindling resources and context of recentralization of devolution.