Wikimedia Kenya User Group
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The Wikimedia Kenya User Group (WMKE) is a recognized Wikimedia Movement affiliate advancing knowledge equity, digital literacy and equitable access to reliable and multilingual information in Kenya and across Africa.
Founded in 2022 and officially recognized as a Wikimedia Affiliate in 2022, the Wikimedia Kenya User Group brings together a diverse community of volunteers, educators, researchers, journalists, photographers, students, technologists, cultural practitioners, and open knowledge advocates committed to expanding and improving knowledge on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
Our work focuses on addressing systemic content gaps that affect the representation of Kenya, Africa, women, youth, culture, local languages, human rights, climate, and other underrepresented knowledge on the internet. Through community-led initiatives, partnerships, and capacity-building programs, we contribute to a more inclusive and representative knowledge ecosystem.
We support contributions across Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wikisource, Wikiquote, and other open knowledge platforms, with particular emphasis on English and Swahili language communities.
The User group's primary contacts are Carol and Winnie.
Our Missionː
To empower communities across Kenya to contribute to open knowledge through inclusive Digital Literacy, strengthening Local Content creation, and growing a vibrant community of Free Knowledge Advocates
Our Visionː
A Kenya where every individual can freely access, create, and share accurate knowledge that reflects our cultural and social diversity.
Upon our affiliation in 2022, Wikimedia Kenya User Group became the first all-female co-founded and led Wikimedia affiliate in Sub-Saharan Africa, and continues to emerge as one of Africa's fast-growing open knowledge communities, with notable volunteer member retention, youth and women engagement in leadership, and sustained contributions across Wikimedia projects through campaigns, edit-a-thons, photography initiatives, training programs, and strategic partnerships.
Our work has contributed to:
- Closing gender and content gaps on Wikimedia platforms.
- Expanding access to knowledge about Kenya and Africa across diverse topics of impact.
- Strengthening youth and women's participation in the Wikimedia movement.
- Supporting the growth of Swahili and local knowledge content.
- Building partnerships with educational, cultural, media, and civil society institutions.
- Advancing conversations around information integrity, digital literacy, and open knowledge.
- Training over 400 youth on fact-checking and digital skills.
Collaboration & Regional Engagement
Collaboration remains at the heart of our work. We continue to work closely with other Wikimedia affiliates, communities, and partners across Africa and beyond for peer learning and to share our best practices.
Our members continue to support movement events such as Afrika Baraza, Wikimania, and Wiki Indaba through programs and scholarships, as well as through our communications committees.
Thematic focus: Arts, Culture & Heritage · Human Rights · Climate & Environment · Media Advocacy · Public Engagement
Arts, Culture & Heritage
WikiCinema Kenya Flagship Project
Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Kenya
Hifadhii ya Mila Photowalk
Climate & Environment
Wiki for Sustainable Futures 2026
Human Rights & Gender Equity
Women in Film Edit-a-thon
Art & Feminism
Regional Wiki Clubs
Pwani Wiki Club Launch
Kiwix for Schools Activation at Shela Primary
Media Advocacy : Newspaper
Closing Kenya's digital knowledge gaps: Celebrating Wikipedia at 25 : The Star
Digital libraries open a new world for learners : Daily Nation
Kenya Launches School Digital Literacy Program To Preserve Culture : Coast Diary News
Media Advocacy : Television
As part of our community outreach and advocacy efforts, our initiatives have been featured across several national television and media broadcasts in Kenya.
Broadcast Appearances:
- Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC Channel 1): Broadcast coverage of local Wikimedia advocacy initiatives.
- KTN News Kenya: "Wazazi Lamu, waomba serikali kuimarisha elimu ili watoto wapate nafasi za ajira". News report covering regional educational data needs.
- NTV Kenya: "Shirika la Wikimedia lazindua klabu ya kuwawezesha wanafunzi kuhifadhi deta". Feature on student data preservation clubs.
- Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: Broadcast segment covering the launch of the first Wiki Club at Pwani University.
- Kenya News Agency: "Juhudi Za Kuhifadhi Deta Za Utamaduni Zang'oa Nanga Kilifi". Report on cultural data preservation efforts in Kilifi.
References & Media Archive
- Note: For verification and reporting purposes, the video recordings of these broadcast segments are archived on the official YouTube channels of the respective media houses.
Media Advocacy : Radio
Wikipedia anniversary spotlights who shapes Kenya's digital record : Pamoja FM
Community Events
Wikipedia@25 Nairobi Celebrations
Monthly Community Kikao / MeetUp : every last Thursday of the month
Core Team Strategic Planning & Team Building
New Community Organizers capacity building training
Newcomer Onboarding Forums
AGM (November 2026)
Capacity Building & Training
Capacity Building Training & Workshops
Summer Institute in Computational Social Science : Lessons from Wikipedia & How Wikimedia Data Can Power Social Science Research
UN Staff Training
How Wikipedia safeguards information integrity
Understanding Wikipedia Policies & Editing Basics
Kiwix for Schools Trainer of Trainers : led in collaboration with OFWA
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Wiki Loves Africa 2025 in Kenya
Wiki for Human Rights Campaign in Kenya 2025 (July / August)
Art & Feminism 2025 (September)
Afro Creatives Campaign 2025 (23 August)
Months of Africa Cinema (Afrocine) Campaign in Kenya 2025 (26 November)
Wiki Loves Africa 2024 in Kenya
Wiki4Human Rights - April / May 2024
Art & Feminism 2024 - July / August 2024
Months of Africa Cinema - Oct/Nov 2024
Hosted an East African internet sustainability session at DRIF2023..
African Day Campaign in Kenya 2023
Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Kenya (2022–2023)
Bid to host Wikimania 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya
Representation at WikiWomenCamp 2023
Representation at GLAM Wiki Conference
Code for Africa Climate Change Campaign
Hosted WikiIndaba 2023 Plenary Session
East African Regional and Thematic Hub (EARTH) – Regional hubs research and planning Ongoing
WikiVibrance Project (January – February 2022)
Igniting Swahili Wikipedia and Capacity Building in Kenya (February 2022)
Wiki Loves Africa 2022 in Kenya (15 February – 15 April 2022)
Wiki for Human Rights 2022 (April 2022)
Wikimania 2022 Scholarships – Wikimedia Community UG Kenya Report
Months of African Cinema 2022 (October – November 2022)
Wiki Loves Earth 2022 (15 June – 31 July 2022)
Art + Feminism Campaign in Kenya 2022 (August – September 2022)
Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Kenya (2022–2023)
Wikidata 10th Birthday Celebration – Kenya
Wikipedia Editing Trainings, Edit-a-thons, Photowalks, Workshops, Community Meetups
Months of African Cinema Campaign in Kenya (2021)
Wiki Loves Africa (2021 / related activities)
Wiki Loves Folklore 2022 in Kenya
MS Engagement & Reporting – Wikimedia Community UG Kenya
Wikimania 2021 Participation and Engagement
Wikimedia Kenya User Group is currently operating as a recognized Wikimedia affiliate governed through a community-centred leadership structure that ensures transparency, accountability, and community participation in decision-making.
The governance framework reflects the User Group's current stage of organizational development while providing a foundation for ongoing plans for incorporation as an independent nonprofit organization in Kenya. We are set to hold our first board elections as part of this transition details will be shared with the community as plans are finalized.
The Wikimedia Kenya community forms the foundation of the organization. Our active members contribute to Wikimedia projects, participate in campaigns and events, provide strategic feedback, and help shape the direction of the User Group through consultations, monthly community Kikao/meetups, and the annual General Meeting (AGM).
The Core Team serves as Wikimedia Kenya User Group's highest decision-making and oversight body as the community progresses toward formal incorporation.
Comprising 10 volunteer community organizers from diverse professional backgrounds, the Core Team provides strategic leadership, governance oversight, and fiduciary accountability, helping guide the organization's growth, sustainability, and long-term vision.
The Core Team works closely with the Executive Director to provide strategic direction, oversight, and accountability while supporting the implementation of Wikimedia Kenya's mission and strategic priorities.
Members
Winnie Kabintie serves as Executive Director of Wikimedia Kenya User Group, providing strategic and operational leadership for the organization.
She is responsible for advancing Wikimedia Kenya's mission and strategic priorities, supporting organizational growth and sustainability, strengthening partnerships, overseeing program implementation, and representing the User Group within the Wikimedia movement and broader knowledge ecosystem.
The Executive Director works closely with the Core Team to implement organizational priorities and support community development.
Reports to: Core Team
Winnie Kabintie has served as Executive Director of Wikimedia Kenya User Group since January 2026, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight. Previously, she served as Team Lead, supporting the community's growth and development.
A founding leader of Wikimedia Kenya, Winnie has played a central role in guiding the community from its early formation during the COVID-19 pandemic into one of Africa's active open knowledge communities.
Under her leadership, Wikimedia Kenya developed and launched its first Strategic Plan, expanded community engagement and partnerships, and strengthened its impact through initiatives advancing knowledge equity, gender inclusion, youth leadership, media and information literacy, and the documentation of underrepresented knowledge about Kenya and Africa.
Winnie is an award-winning digital media journalist and strategic communications specialist, recognized nationally for her contributions to youth media and information literacy. She brings over a decade of experience in community building, stakeholder engagement, and project leadership across the media, nonprofit, governance, education, and international development sectors.
She previously served as the Regional Movement Communications Specialist for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Wikimedia Foundation.
As Executive Director, she reports to The Core Team and works closely with the team to implement organizational priorities and support community development.
Email Wikimedia Kenya User Group General inquiries: wikimediausergroupkenya(_AT_)gmail.com
GOI Foundation on Twitter You can follow us on X (@WikimediaK ).
You can also connect with our members: Winnie Kabintie and Carol Mwaura.
We are excited to welcome new contributors to the Wikimedia Kenya User Group. Click below to add your username to the list of individuals who have expressed interest in joining our community or to learn more about joining.
Reports & Strategy