Dr. Wala is a mother and a medical doctor with a passion to defend justice. Her most recent fight for human rights was inspired by the operating environment for doctors in Kenya and the subsequent doctors’ strike in 2016. During this period, she actively campaigned for better working environment for doctors and the release of the union leaders who had been arrested. During the 2017 Elections, she started an online conversation dubbed: #NotOnMyWatch which provided a safe platform for people to share ongoing violations. She also formed a small group of 5 female doctors who partnered with KNCHR to document cases of Human Rights Violations in the Nairobi and Kisumu slums.

This platform later on went on train medical doctors on forensic documentation and is currently securing funding to take the doctors through psychological counselling on vicarious trauma. Some of the challenges she has undergone is the looming discomfort that her human rights work poses to her family who fear for her physical wellbeing.

Being in full time employment also means that she has to delicately balance her public image on human rights so as not to be seen to be representing the views of her employer.  In addition, lack of resources forces her to use her personal resources to carry out her initiatives. Despite the challenges, she actively and successfully countered negative narrative against doctor’s strike and led a gallant campaign championing for the release of the Doctors Union leaders who had been arrested. The work she did during the electioneering period contributed greatly to the KNCHR elections report. Through this she has established critical linkages with forensic officers in most hospitals who document cases of human rights violations.