In this powerful episode of Rooted Podcast, we sit down with Ephy Imbali, the Founder and Executive Director of Community Asset Building for Development Action (CABDA)—a community-led organization strengthening resilience, and local systems across Western Kenya.Ephy’s story begins in Kakamega County, where she grew up as one of 12 siblings in a family marked by economic hardship, enduring faith, and collective responsibility. From an early age, she witnessed both hardship and the strength communities carry when people come together to survive, support one another, and rise together.Those experiences shaped a lifelong conviction: communities are not empty-handed. They already hold assets, leadership, wisdom, and solutions capable of creating lasting transformation.After years working with international NGOs, Ephy began questioning development models that positioned communities primarily as recipients rather than active agents of their own change. She saw projects completed without ownership, systems installed without sustainability, and communities left dependent on outside intervention long after organizations had moved on.That realization became the foundation for CABDA.Built on the belief that communities themselves are central to development, CABDA partners alongside local leaders to strengthen existing community assets, build local systems, and equip communities to sustain their own progress long after outside funding ends.Throughout the conversation, Ephy shares powerful stories of community agency in action—from a spring protection project built more than 20 years ago that communities still maintain today, to women’s groups pooling savings to support children’s education, to local organizations growing stronger through mentorship, partnership, and trust.Nadia and Ephy explore:• Why community-led development begins with recognizing existing assets• The difference between ownership and dependency in development work• How communities rise when they are trusted to lead their own transformation• Why servant leadership matters more than power• The role of faith, humility, and accountability in sustaining long-term impact• How CABDA has strengthened more than 46 local civil society organizations• What it means to stay the course in the deep work of transformationThis conversation is deeply grounded in hope, dignity, and the belief that lasting change is strongest when communities themselves are empowered to lead it.👥 About Our Guest: Ephy ImbaliEphy Imbali is the Founder and Executive Director of Community Asset Building for Development Action (CABDA), a Kenyan community-led organization serving communities across Western Kenya.For more than 20 years, CABDA has partnered with communities to strengthen local leadership, community systems, economic resilience, and access to health and WASH services through approaches rooted in community ownership and existing local assets.Ephy has more than 30 years of experience in community development and social impact. Her leadership is shaped by faith, humility, accountability, and a deep belief that sustainable transformation happens when communities are trusted, equipped, and empowered to lead their own development.In 2024, Blood:Water recognized Ephy as Leader of the Year for her visionary leadership and longstanding commitment to locally led change.📲 Connect with Ephy & CABDAWebsite → https://cabdakenya.org/💬 Stay Connected with Blood:Water🎧 Listen & Subscribe📍 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@BloodWaterMission📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bloodwatermission/📘 Facebook → https://web.facebook.com/bloodwatermission?_rdc=1&_rdr#🐦 Twitter/X → https://x.com/bloodwater📩 Email us → BLOODWATER@BLOODWATER.ORG
