The Community Initiative in Poverty Alleviation (CIPA) is a youth-led community-based organisation rooted in Seme Sub-county, Kisumu County. We work at the intersection of digital inclusion, health access, and grassroots advocacy — building lasting capacity within our community rather than creating dependency.
Founded in May 2020, CIPA Kenya is a registered community-based organisation working from the ground up — in households, market centres, schools and community gathering points across Seme.
Seme Sub-county is a predominantly rural constituency along the shores of Lake Victoria. With a population of over 90,000 people, the majority depend on subsistence fishing, small-scale farming and informal trade. Opportunity is uneven: digital infrastructure is thin, healthcare access is limited, and too many young people grow up without a clear path to economic independence.
We exist to change that — not by imposing solutions from outside, but by working alongside our neighbours to build the capacity, connectivity, and confidence they need to lead their own development.
Read our full story →Decisions are made by young people, for young people, in collective and non-hierarchical ways.
Our team lives in the community we serve. We listen first, then act.
We build skills and infrastructure that outlast us — not dependency.
We centre the most marginalised: girls, persons with disabilities, and households left behind.
Our work rests on three interconnected pillars. Each one stands on its own — but it's the way they reinforce each other that creates lasting change in our community.
Our flagship programme. We equip young people with the digital skills, devices, and connectivity they need to earn online, access information, and participate in the modern economy.
We work to close the gap between rural communities and the healthcare they deserve — with a particular focus on preventive health and the long-overlooked area of mental health.
Skills and services aren't enough on their own — the rules of the game matter too. We engage county and national policy processes to push for an enabling environment for marginalised communities.
Reliable internet shouldn't drain a family's budget. As part of our Youth & Digital Empowerment work, CIPA runs an affordable community WiFi service — pay-as-you-go, no contracts, and priced lower than any other ISP serving our area.
No monthly contracts. Buy only what you use, when you need it — vouchers from as little as a daily bundle.
Priced lower than every other ISP serving Seme — because connectivity should be a right, not a luxury.
Hotspots at community centres, schools, and inside individual homes. We meet people where they already are.
Affordable connectivity for every home in Seme.
Check real-time market prices before selling produce — and stop being squeezed by middlemen.
Access health information, telemedicine, and emergency contacts when the nearest clinic is far.
Tap into freelancing, online jobs, and global opportunities without leaving the village.
Unlock free learning resources, scholarships, past papers, and online courses.
Receive weather updates and agricultural advisories to plan planting and harvesting.
Stay informed and engaged in civic processes that shape their lives.
Volunteer, partner, or support our mission. Every contribution helps a young person, a family, or a school in Seme step into a better tomorrow.
