DEFENDERS COALITION INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR GALANT WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO SAY NO TO THE CREEPING CULTURE THAT NORMALIZES THE KILLING AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS IN KENYA AND BEYOND

Saturday , 27January 2024, Nairobi – Kenya

Today, thousands of women human rights defenders and other citizens concerned with unparalleled steep rise in the killings of women in Kenya will be on the streets of major towns to express their disgusts at the heinous crimes of torture, rape, mistreatment and murder. The peaceful protests planned Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Turkana, Vihiga, Nakuru, Kisii, Machakos, Nyeri, Kwale and Busia shall be a loud statement to call on the authorities to action to protect women from killings and violence but to also condemn the public silence and in some instances distasteful comments on social media that blame the victims.

The right to life is sacrosanct yet in the past few days of January 2024 we have witnessed horrendous tales of how Starlet Wahu, Rita Waeni, Grace Wangari were lured into macabre murders that point to the degeneration of societal values and respect attached to the right to life.

The murders of Rita, Wacu and Wangari are certainly the latest but adds to a larger pile of other murders of women in the recent past. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicating that in 2022 only 706 women were victims of femicide in Kenya. The Kenyan media have reported that 8 young women have already been brutally murdered within the first two weeks of 2024.

As an organization that believes in a just society that respect human rights for all, Defenders Coalition reminds the Kenyan government over its obligations to protect human rights and our collective duty to zero tolerance policy towards gender and sexual based violence. There must be unequivocal commitment by the highest office to the protection of human life and the elimination of this vice.

We commend individuals, groups and networks who have refused to sit down and watch the reckless loss of lives by organizing nationwide marches scheduled today, Saturday, 27th January 2024.

Let us all unite as a country that believes that Women Rights are Human Rights.

We appeal to you to join these individuals and groups to demand for social change amongst our communities and homes and turn towards a society that upholds, respects and promotes human rights for all.

We call on you to speak up and let your voice be counted.

#TotalShutDownKE #EndFemicideKE

Kamau Ngugi,

Executive Director, Defenders Coalition

Dear Friend, Supporter, Comrade, Colleague and Partner,

Happy new year greetings from Defenders Coalition.

We wish to share with you highlights of the progress of our critical work in support of Human Rights Defenders for the last two months of 2023.

We invite you to learn about our work of supporting the safety, security and Wellbeing of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya and how you can support it.

Regards

Read the Newsletter here

As various grassroot, national, regional and international human rights organizations made preparations in readiness for the commemoration of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders (DHRD) in December 2023, the Defenders Coalition was making preparations for something unique.

The Defenders Coalition brought together 103 human rights defenders (HRDs) to the eighth edition of the Annual Human Rights Defenders Academy.

Coming from all the 47 counties in Kenya, the participants were on a mission: to network, enhance their skills on climate justice, security management and reflect on their wellbeing.

“I am so happy to be here because this is a platform that firstly recognizes my work as a human rights advocate. Secondly, I intend to use the skills that I gain from the training to ensure that I take my human rights advocacy to the next level,” noted Naima Omar a WHRD from Mombasa County.

Since inception in 2015, the Annual HRD Academy has purposed to meet the needs of HRDs in terms of critical skill and knowledge that enhances the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts.

“The Academy is founded on a concept of skill building for enhanced impact. Defenders Coalition is concerned not only with the safety and security of individuals at the frontline but also the impact of their work to the communities,” said Kamau Ngugi, Executive Director of the Defenders Coalition.

Beyond equipping HRDs with skills, the Academy also brings geographical and thematic human rights work diversity to exchange and share experiences.

Among others, the 2023 HRD Academy was attended by individuals working on climate justice, sexual minority, good governance, women and girls and indigenous people’s rights.

“We are proud that we have had a direct contribution to the establishment of movements and solidarity networks who strike powerful solidarity partnerships. We have also seen evidence that the diversity at the Academy helps reduce then feeling of “being alone in the struggle,” noted Gloria Madegwa, Head of Programs at the Defenders Coalition.

The theme for last year was on ecological justice and the need for HRDs to enhance their engagement with the topical global conversation.

“The need to have all these human rights champions together is aimed at emphasizing the fact we cannot seperate the issue of environmental protection from human rights,” noted Nyaguthii Chege, East Africa Hub Director, Natural Justice.

Defenders Coalition will continue to provide similar movement and solidarity building and skill enhancement platforms in 2024.

Defenders Coalition condemns the murder of Daniel “Sniper” Muthiani

Sunday, 31 December 2023 – Nairobi

The Defenders Coalition joins Kenyans in condemning the gruesome murder of political commentator and blogger Daniel “Sniper” Muthiani.

‘Sniper’s’ murder that sent shockwaves across the country paints the true picture of the situation of many advocates of good governance at the grassroot level: they are either harassed, surveilled, threatened, illegally arrested and detained, tortured and/or killed.

Trends point at a strong will by powerful political elites to silence all dissenting voices, whether by hook or crook, despite lawful guarantee of the freedom of speech and expression by Article 33 of the constitution of Kenya 2010.
As we condemn this barbaric killing of a young father who only wanted the best for Meru County, we call on the national government and the 47 county governments to create an enabling environment for human rights advocates, community bloggers, journalists, and social justice champions to freely express their views.

The work of these individuals and groups is pivotal in realising a dignified life for all Kenyans and thus need our support and not vilification. We call on these governments to create avenues for round table discussions and implementation of resolutions as opposed to creating criminal squads that harass, intimidate and squeeze air out of patriotic individuals.

We equally call on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to independently and professional investigate and prosecute this crime that has not only robbed Meru County a progressive comrade but also ‘Sniper’s’ children of their right to fatherly love. The killers must be brought to book.

As we usher in the new year, let us remind ourselves once gains that NO ONE DESERVES TO LOSE THEIR LIVES FOR EXPRESSING DIVERGENT VIEWS IN ANY DISCOURSE.

A total of eighteen human rights advocates were recognized on Friday 8 December 2023 for their trailblazing work in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Royal Danish Embassy where various nominees were recognized under the Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year Award, Human Rights Defender of the Year Award, Munir Mazrui Lifetime Achievement Award and The Global Solidarity Award and the Popular Vote Award.

Despite not being among the list of nominees, five other rights defenders and organizations were recognized at the ceremony for their dedication and exemplary commitment in serving their communities.

Here is the full list of winners under each category:

Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year Award

1. The Social Justice Centers Travelling Theatre

In recognition of your exemplary and innovative use of Art and Theatre for the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya’s informal settlements and beyond.

Human Rights Defender of the Year Award

1. National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights commission

In recognition of your exemplary and outstanding contribution towards the promotion and protection of human rights for LGBTIQ+ persons in Kenya

2. Peter Epakan

In recognition of your exemplary contribution towards the promotion and protection of human rights including minority groups within the Lake Turkana Basin.

Munir Mazrui Lifetime Achievement Award

1. Paul K. Muite

In recognition of your courage and exemplary contribution towards good governance, constitutionalism, rule of law, and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Kenya

Global Solidarity Award

1. Black Lives Matter Movement

In recognition of your inspiration and solidarity with global struggles against human rights violations, racial discrimination and inequality across the globe.

Popular Vote Award

1. Dennis Orengo Juma

In recognition of your exemplary contribution towards the promotion and protection of human rights and the inclusion of persons with disability within the informal settlements in Nairobi County.

The Human Rights Defenders Awards Jury recognized five other rights defenders and organizations were recognized at the ceremony for their dedication and exemplary commitment in serving their communities. Here are their names:

1. Mukuru Community Justice Centre- for their advocacy initiatives on community land rights highlighting the impact of demolitions on families and the community within their informal settlement
2. Mark Ninga- For their uptake and utilization of social media platforms to advance sexual minority acceptance, inclusion and protection
3. Julius Kamau- For their exemplified and embodiments of article 37 on right to peaceful and unarmed protest despite facing numerous charges emanating from his arrest while peacefully protesting.
4. Alvin Macharia Kamau (Minor) – 9 year old from Nakuru who is the current Mr. Mini Environment For their initiatives towards rallying the young generation to take action on environmental rights and climate justice through tree planting.
5. Aileen Florence Akinyi (Minor)- 10 year old child philanthropist from Kisumu who is vocal on vulnerable girls and women especially widows, working with widows to raise funds for their economic empowerment and access to sanitary towels for vulnerable girls.

Read the profiles of all nominees here

PAUL KIBUGI MUITE, S.C. IS A SENIOR LAWYER and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 51 years of legal practice. He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in June 1970 and signed the roll of Senior Counsel in 2003.

Paul K. Muite is an active member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) having served as its President in 1990/91

Muite has had a remarkable legal career characterized with a passionate and strong commitment to upholding human rights principles. Over the years he has used his expertise in constitutional law to advocate for the protection of individual liberties and justice.

During the period of the struggle, he was targeted by former President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi and planned to flee Kenya. However, his passport was seized by the government rendering him unable to flee Kenya. He became an internal refugee as a result.

His contribution is greatly acknowledged in the “Struggle for the Second (2nd) Liberation” and the fight for multi-party democracy, where he played a key role in providing political leadership that promoted the rule of law and respect for human rights.

This struggle motivated him to push his legal skills and experience to Parliament and in 1992 he became the Kikuyu Constituency, a position he held until 2007.

During this time, he chaired both the Parliamentary Committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms. His conviction and belief in changing and influencing positive governance led him to establish the Safina party, which faced great opposition when it was first formed and it was not until 1997 when it was recognized as an official party.

Muite was a key figure in advocating for constitutional reforms in Kenya in the 1980s and 90s with his extensive legal knowledge coming in handy during the formation of Kenya’s 2010 constitution where he ensured that it reflects the principles of human rights, inclusivity, and democracy and good governance.

Paul K. Muite continues to support constitutional/democratic growth and his passion for human rights issues has distinguished him as a fearless defender of the Bill of Rights championing for minority groups rights.

Muite’s consistency in challenging oppressive regimes continues to contribute to the development of the laws that continue to advance Kenya’s current constitutional order.

Sankara is a grassroot human defender and a member of the Ngong social justice and

Environment center. Sankara advocates for ecological and social justice. He advocates against police brutality, gender based violence, land grabbing and river pollution through influencing change in public attitudes, policies and laws to create an inclusive, clean, friendly and socially just society. 

“My most notable success is the reclamation of public land that acted as a dumpsite for a period of time. The grabbing of this piece of land saw my arrest and that of a 11 other youths who come out in defense of this land. We suffered torture and atrocities for refusal to keep quite about the grabbing of this land.”

Sankara observes that environmental advocacy, especially on the land question, particularly when public land grabbing is involved, attracts severe response from the violators, in some cases, with connivance of the state agencies. 

“…during my advocacy works against the violation of waste pickers rights, in line with the community land we were being evacuated from, I was arrested tortured and locked behind bars for a period of two weeks for leading protest against the grabbing of those pieces of land and standing ground against the violation of fellow youths working in this sector. I have also suffered torture, intimidation and violations including dispossession of personal items for being vocal against grabbing of public land and public spaces around Ngong.”

Sankara is an exceptional HRD who demonstrates leadership through the cultivation of diverse and inclusive workforce, continuous learning and championing toward talent development, social justice and ecological justice initiative.

Pema is a human rights organization that works on advocating for Gender and Sexual Minorities in Kenya. Pema Kenya promotes inclusivity of Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM) through advocacy and capacity building with a vision of a society that embraces justice and diversity. They deploy the use of biometrics and health data, community-led monitoring; Conduct health outreaches; sensitization of sub-county health facilities through various approaches like Utu barazas with the health service providers and mental health interventions on GSMs. 

The primary challenges Pema and other groups advocating for GSM face is government’s policy and the social-cultural pressure. The current laws for instance,  Penal Code 162, 165 is conveniently interpreted to discriminate GSMs. And there is a potential of a far more restrictive laws in the form of the draft Family Protection Bill which presents an existential challenge for Pema-Kenya and its work

Despite the challenging legal and social reality, Pema continues to deliver on critical areas. 

“Pema spearheaded county-level advocacy initiatives in Mombasa County by establishing a cohort of moderators comprised of key stakeholders (police officers, health workers, local administrators, and religious leaders) who work together in one space at the institution of service delivery to create safe space within the institutions for GSM community to access services. “

Pema play a critical role in a restricted and increasingly hostile environment where the state restricts civic space through legal, policy and administrative tools, and society through cultural means.