Usawa Dinner 2025 - Hosted by Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA) Kenya

The Usawa Dinner concept seeks to provide a setting in which food - an essential and relatable element of life— illustrates structural inequality in the context of VAT in a way that is directly and immediately felt by those attending the dinner. Irrespective of earnings - whether one earns Ksh. 20,000 or Ksh. 5,000,000 a month, VAT is applied uniformly on all items.

The Usawa Dinner will amplify conversations about expectations vs. reality. While individual tickets cost the same amount, dinner guests will be served one of three (3) different menu items. Some guests will get great value for their money while others will get little value for their money – akin to equal rates for income taxes, but not equal access to services and resources.

We expect to spark reactions, feelings, actions and even criticism from the guests for this abject lesson in inequality using food. The guests will be faced with the challenge of confronting their sense of justice, clear inequality, loss of choice, sense of fairness, hopes, as well as privilege, etc. as they react and respond to the meal they receive.