When mentioning formidable and courageous human rights defenders, the name of Khelef Khalifa cannot miss on that list. His human rights work would commence in the 1990s, during Kenya’s struggle to become a multi-party state. As part of the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) movement, Khalifa helped organize mass actions in Mombasa, including the historic general strike of May 1993. These efforts laid the foundation for the creation of Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) in 1997, which he co-founded with Willy Mutunga and Alamin Mazrui in response to communal violence and land injustices following the Kaya Bombo clashes. That same year, Khalifa documented abuses and pursued legal action, setting the tone for his lifelong commitment to justice.
From the late 1990s, Khalifa led bold campaigns against land grabbing and the privatization of public spaces. At Mama Ngina Drive, he personally dismantled illegal barriers and filed litigation to protect public land. His landmark case- Civil Case No. 613 of 2001, challenged the irregular alienation of Dickson Garden, establishing him as a pioneer of public-interest land litigation.
Khalifa’s work has always been intersectional, addressing land rights, enforced disappearances, police brutality, and broader human rights violations. He works with diverse community groups, tailoring his approach to the needs of each case. Whether it’s offering legal advice, following up on cases, or collaborating with other organizations, Khalifa’s method is grounded on the principles of human rights.
Between 2005 and 2009, Khalifa served as a commissioner at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), where he led the Police Reforms Working Group and documented extrajudicial killings, including those targeting suspected Mungiki members. His work during this period deepened national awareness of police abuse.
Khalifa has also played a pivotal role in electoral justice. In 2017, he joined Maina Kiai and others in petitioning the presidential election results. That same year, he sued the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), resulting in a landmark ruling that declared results announced at polling stations as final, a major win for electoral transparency.
His work has not come without cost. Khalifa has been targeted, surveilled, and harassed. His home in Nyali has been broken into multiple times, and he has received anonymous calls meant to intimidate him. Yet he remains undeterred. He navigates these risks by strictly operating within the law, often going underground when threats escalate, changing vehicles, and walking in the company of others for safety.
From challenging land grabs and police killings to demanding transparency in public procurement and electoral processes, Khalifa has remained the most vocal and consistent human rights defender in the Coastal region. His unwavering spirit, courage and resilience is constant reminder that we should never lose hope in the face of adversity, rather, we need to remain steadfast in championing for rights and freedoms as guaranteed under the Constitution, for a better tomorrow.