Jaffar Masoud Mbwana is a multi-talented, intelligent, energetic and well-presented gentleman with comprehensive skills set from Lamu County, the archipelago of the coast of Kenya.  He is a passionate frontline human rights defender, Paralegal, public budget practitioner and a dynamic defender.

Jaffar kickstarted his activism career in  2010 by founding  Faza Youth Action Group (FYAG) , a non-profit, independent and non-partisan human right community-based organization Lamu East within Lamu County. Faza Youth Action Group works towards defending and safeguarding social development and ensuring provision, protection and participation of his community in economic and social rights. Jaffar is a paralegal and a community facilitator in Lamu County and was among the pioneers and founders of Save Lamu, a human right organization advocating for the right to clean and dignified environment for coastal communities.

Jaffar also wears the hat of being the co-founder of Solidarity for Change movement in Lamu County which advocates for the demarcation of the Coast province in general. The organization also champions for the rights of minorities and marginalized communities. Jaffar also cofounded Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) to spearhead the rights of women and girls in among muslim communities.

His dogma as a human right defender was informed by lack of representation of marginalized communities in the development narrative post the promulgamation of the Kenya Constitution, 2010 which allowed for devolved governments. He realized that the majority of the population lacked the capacity to critically contribute to an inclusive development agenda due to lack of social and economic empowerment. He, therefore, devoted his energies towards mobilizing the community and sensitizing them towards ensuring provision, protection and participation of youth in economic and social rights. 

He believes that poor living conditions and poverty only exist due to social and economic evils conducted by those in power. 

Through his efforts of mobilizing community members, he has been able to advocate for the demarcation of Vumbe land in Lamu East after which community members were enjoined in the demand for ownership titles to the pieces of land. As a result, over 100 women were able to get land and acquire titles of ownership for the same.

He has also partnered with the National Council of Persons With Disability (NCPWD), where they organize for mobile registration clinics in Lamu East various location, Shanga, Pate, Siu, Faza, Kizingitini, Mbwajumwali, Tchundwa, Myabogi, to map persons with disability for listing them to benefit from the national social protection services.  

Jaffar has worked to hold duty bearers to account. He sensitizes the community on their mandate in the budget process as well as the need to emphasize on the implementation of projects as per the budget calendar timelines. He has trained several young women and men on the budget process and involved them in the process of following up on projects.

He has been involved in many peace negotiations with National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to come up with the peace accord between Tchundwa and Mbwajumwali community that have been warring for many years. He also initiated peace accords between villages to maintain peace and live-in harmony as well as initiated the idea of forming and registering the village council of elders in all villages in Lamu East.

Jaffar initiated a drugs abuse awareness campaign in Lamu East and came up with a movement to curb the vice which has tremendous strides in referring drug addicts to the rehabilitation centers. He has also mentored many youths and continues to have mentorship sessions in primary and secondary schools.

He has received previous recognitions including the human rights defender unspoken hero of the year 2018.