SKY Girls Kenya Initiative successfully hosted the 2nd Kisumu edition of SKY FEST, bringing together more than 5,000 adolescent girls as the “Peace Over Pressure #Najijua” movement continued to gain momentum nationwide.
Held under this year’s theme, “Peace Over Pressure #Najijua,” SKY FEST Kisumu 2026 encouraged girls to choose calm confidence and self-belief over negative peer influence and societal pressure. The campaign forms part of SKY Girls Kenya’s broader national movement promoting healthy choices, mental wellbeing, self-expression, and future-focused decision-making among girls aged 12–19 years.
The event brought together girls from more than 48 schools across Kisumu and neighboring counties for a day of music, mentorship, entertainment, storytelling, and peer connection designed to reinforce positive behaviours and build confidence in a safe and relatable environment.
The Kisumu edition followed the successful Nairobi festival held earlier at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which attracted more than 7,000 girls. Together, the two editions engaged more than 12,000 girls in 2026, cementing SKY FEST’s position as Kenya’s largest teen girl empowerment festival.
The Kisumu festival featured performances and appearances from some of Kenya’s most influential youth entertainers and creators, including Tipsee Gee, TikTokers Collo Blue and Pricky with DJs Trixy and Dimore. All performers featured at SKY FEST are selected through SKY Girls Kenya’s co-creation model, where girls themselves nominate the personalities they connect with most. Each performer is then vetted against SKY’s safeguarding and conduct standards to ensure alignment with the initiative’s values and message.
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Research continues to show that adolescent girls face growing pressure around identity, relationships, and risky behaviours, with peer pressure identified as a major driver of early sexual debut and tobacco uptake. SKY Girls Kenya’s “Peace Over Pressure” campaign directly addresses this reality by equipping girls with the confidence and support systems they need to make informed choices and protect their futures.
What began in Kenya in 2020 as a girl empowerment and tobacco prevention initiative has evolved into a nationwide youth movement using entertainment, storytelling, magazines, digital content, school engagement, and safe community spaces to address issues affecting adolescent girls, including confidence building, pregnancy prevention, tobacco prevention, HPV vaccination awareness, HIV prevention, and gender equality.
Speaking following the Kisumu event, Svetlana Polikarpova, Director of SKY Girls Kenya Initiative, said the continued growth of SKY FEST reflects the increasing need for safe, empowering spaces where girls can feel seen, supported, and inspired.
“Since launching SKY in Kisumu in 2024, it has been incredible to see how quickly girls have embraced the movement, with over 71% of girls in Kisumu now knowing and interacting with SKY. This year marks our 2nd SKY Fest in Kisumu, and we are making it bigger, bolder and even more meaningful. Kisumu girls have shown us their energy, confidence and openness — and SKY Fest is our way of creating a safe, joyful space where they can connect, celebrate sisterhood and choose their peace, health and future with confidence.”
SKY Girls Kenya’s impact continues to be reflected through measurable behaviour change outcomes among girls engaged through the programme:
- 62% of SKY Girls confidently resist peer pressure
- A 54% decrease in adolescent cigarette usage
- A 67% increase in girls’ ability to stand up for themselves
The initiative continues to build trust among parents, schools, and communities, with strong support from education stakeholders who increasingly view SKY FEST as a safe and valuable platform that helps girls grow into more confident and self-assured young women.
SKY Girls Kenya also maintains active partnerships with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, supporting broader national efforts around adolescent wellbeing, psychosocial support, and youth empowerment.
Since launching in Nairobi in 2021, SKY FEST has grown into one of the most anticipated youth events for girls in Kenya. In 2025 alone, the festival reached nearly 10,000 girls across Nairobi and Kisumu, with 2026 surpassing all previous participation levels.
