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Police must stop the use of excessive force while enforcing the curfew law
Police Must Stop the Use of Excessive Force while Enforcing the Curfew Order
March 27, 2020
The civil society’s Police Reforms Working Group, comprised of twenty national human rights organisations, condemn the unnecessary and excessive use of force by Kenya Police Service officers yesterday at the Likoni Ferry Crossing, Mombasa. The police actions completely betrayed the specific responsibility bestowed upon them by the President; to facilitate orderly passage of commuters on the Likoni crossing.
Alongside elected leaders and members of the public, we were horrified by the excessive use of police force contrary to the functions of the Police laid out in Article 244 of our constitution. Police indiscriminately threw teargas, frog marched and beat up members of the public trying to get home in time for the curfew.
We also condemn the assault of Nation Media Group Journalist Peter Wainaina by a uniformed police officer during the operation. We remind the Police that journalists and media houses are among the essential services exempted from the curfew order as per the Schedule published by the Ministry of Interior.
It is unbelievable that this violence took place two hours before the designated curfew time of 7.00pm. It is essential that Kenyan law and international human standards are respected. Police bear a duty to maintain public order and enforce the law. They may only use force when strictly necessary. Where the use of force is unavoidable, it must also be done with restraint.
We continue to receive testimonies from victims, eyewitnesses and video footage showing police gleefully assaulting members of the public in other parts of the country. We note that in most instances, few posed no immediate threat to the police officers or others. The use of force and beatings was unnecessary and unlawful.
One day before the Likoni Ferry fiasco, the National Police Service Inspector General issued clear instructions to his officers. These instructions clearly state his commitment to hold sub-commanders accountable for any police actions that lead to congestion, crowding or violate social distancing rules. We ask him to honor his own word by disciplining the Sub-Commander in charge of yesterday’s fiasco. We also call upon Officers Commanding Station (OCSs) to be guided by the Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines as they deal with petty offenders at the station level.
We further call upon the National Police Service Inspector General to restrain his officers from using teargas to avoid potential spread of COVID-19. Hundreds were forced to cough, vomit, spit and touch their faces to wipe away tears and unblock their mouths and noses. If the operation was supposed to protect people from spreading the virus, the operation achieved the exact opposite. It is imperative that Ministry of Health guidelines on prevention of the spread of COVID-19 are followed by Police at all times.
Police officers appear confused on who is included in the categories of critical and essential services on the first night of the curfew. We have testimonies from suppliers and trained medical practitioners who experienced intimidation and threats of arrest as they tried to provide services during the curfew. Their free movement must be protected.
Lastly, we call upon the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights to investigate all reports of excessive use of force and unlawful policing with a view to holding perpetrators individually responsible. We encourage members of the public to immediately report any intimidation, extortion or violence to these agencies. Public order management must not be used to inflict pain, fuel panic and fear at this at this difficult time.
We shall intensify our monitoring of the curfew in the public interest.
This statement is signed by the Law Society of Kenya – Mombasa and members of the Police Reforms Working Group, an alliance of several organisations committed to professional and rule of law policing. They include the Social Justice Centres Working Group, International Justice Mission, Independent Medical Legal Unit, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Defenders Coalition, Haki Africa, Amnesty International Kenya, International Centre for Transitional Justice, The Kenyan Section of International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), Usalama Reforms Forum, Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA-K) Legal Resources Foundation, Transparency International Kenya, Shield For Justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Peace Brigades International and Katiba Institute
Photo Credit: Daily Nation
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS NETWORK, MISSING VOICES COALITION, MOTHERS OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS NETWORK AND THE KENYA TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE NETWORK ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE RIGHT TO THE TRUTH CONCERNING GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND FOR THE DIGNITY FOR VICTIMS
24 MARCH 2020
Kenya, like the rest of the world is navigating through an uncharted territory as we grapple with and impede the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. While we welcome the measures and mechanisms put in place by the government of Kenya, we note the following human rights concerns:
▪ The vulnerable and marginalized populations, in particular women and girls within informal settlements, and housing with population density are experiencing immense challenges in accessing adequate and quality water, sanitation, and adequate food;
▪ Security and safety for women and girls is threatened and not guaranteed as they seek scarce water for their households in a bid to comply with public health instructions of mitigating COVID-19;
▪ Continued challenges and barriers in accessing affordable, adequate and quality health care services in the already constrained health care system;
▪ Arrests and extortion of members of public by police officers who are taking advantage of lack of awareness of what is expected of them in respect of COVID-19; and
▪ Threat to, and occurrences of sexual and gender-based violence, in part driven by loss of livelihood, hence contributing to already worrying incidents of this violence, especially directed at women and girls.
As we point out these human rights concerns, we highlight that today marks an important international Human Rights Day that commemorates The Right To The Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations And For The Dignity For Victims. We, the victims and survivors of the following gross human rights violations namely: summary executions, sexual violence during electoral periods in Kenya, enforced disappearances, and torture, together with our families, supporters, advocates and friends are commemorating this day to: –
Honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice; and
Pay tribute to Kenyans who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.
Collectively, we are concerned by the lack of political and good will to address gross human rights violations a practice that only perpetuates a culture of impunity, systematic exclusion and socio-economic inequalities that continue to spread to other aspects of our lives as Kenyans.
We, the victims and survivors of gross human rights violations in pursuit of truth and justice took part in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) process by submitting our statements, memoranda and by taking part in the hearings. We have subsequently and consistently petitioned various government agencies including the Office of the Attorney General and Senate’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee calling for the urgent adoption and full implementation of the TJRC report. We are concerned by the protracted delay and failure by the Government to fully adopt and implement recommendations of the TJRC Report especially as regards reparations of victims. To-date majority of survivors and victims of these gross human rights violations contend with medical and psychological harm, loss of loved ones, loss of livelihood, stigma and fear.
In 2007/08 post-election period approximately 900 sexual violence were documented by the Commission of Inquiry into the Post-Election Violence (CIPEV) and in a sad turn of events during 2017 electoral period approximately 201 sexual violence were documented in 11 counties by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The survivors of electoral related sexual violence of which the majority are women including those who bore children out of their rape ordeal are particularly perplexed that the government gazetted the TJRC report excluding its volumes IIA and IIC on sexual violence and other gross human NVSN
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rights violations. The vagaries, impact and consequences of this particular violation remain unrecognized and unresolved physically, socially, emotionally and are still felt to date,. Particularly when it is noted that these perpetrators that include police officers have not been held accountable.
Survivors of electoral related sexual violence victims filed constitutional cases numbers Constitutional Petition No. 273 of 2011 (CP 273/2011); Constitutional Petition No. 122 of 2013 (CP 122/2013); and, Constitutional Petition No. 15 of 2014 seeking redress that occurred during electoral periods. Unfortunately, these cases remain inordinately delayed more than 8 years.
We sadly continue to note occurrence of enforced disappearance and summary execution. In 2019, a report released by the Missing Voices Coalition disclosed that Kenyans witnessed 107 summary execution of fellow Kenyans by police officers. Most of these victims of summary execution are young Kenyan men from informal settlements.
In commemoration of this International Day For The Right To The Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations And For The Dignity, we demand the following:-
1. The truth concerning H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive of March 2015 to the National Treasury for the establishment of the Kshs. 10 billion Restorative Justice Fund for purposes of healing and reconciliation to the victims of historical injustices. Further, the truth about what became of the Draft Policy and Regulations that were developed in partnership with the office of the Attorney in 2018 for purposes of anchoring the Restorative Justice Fund under the Public Finance Management Act No. 18 of 2012. We demand for the immediate and comprehensive reparations for all victims and survivors of gross human rights violations including their families from the Restorative Justice Fund (that should be increased according to the needs and numbers of the victims and survivors).
2. The truth behind the delay in full operationalization of the Victim Protection Act No. 17 of 2017 that provides for assistance and protective measures to victims of crime. We demand the urgent full operationalisation of this Act.
3. Truth as to why it has taken 2 years to fully operationalise the Prevention of Torture Act No. 12 of 2017 and the National Coroners Service Act No. 18 of 2017, which are useful human rights tool to curb extra judicial executions and torture by rogue police officers. We demand for immediate full operationalization and implementation of these laws.
4. Immediate adoption and full implementation of the TJRC report and its recommendations.
5. Prioritisation and the finalisation of court cases No. 273 of 2011 (CP 273/2011); No. 122 of 2013 (CP 122/2013); and, No. 15 of 2014.
6. Honouring of court awards and full compensation to the victims of Nyayo House Torture Chambers who have successfully sued the state and are yet to be paid.
Finally, during this perilous times of the Corona Virus (COVID-19), we urge the Government of Kenya to institute enough measures to contain and prevent the further spread of the killer virus and in so doing to observe, protect and promote human rights for all Kenyans regardless of their socio-economic status.
Thank you,
NATIONAL VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS NETWORK,
MOTHERS OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS NETWORK
MISSING VOICES COALITION
THE KENYA TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE NETWORK
09 March, 2020
25 years After the Beijing Conference: Still Not Doing Enough to Protect Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa
In commemoration of the 2020 International Women’s Day, 12 civil society organisations (CSOs) honor the brave women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Africa, and worldwide, and call on state authorities to ensure protection and well-being of WHRDs.
In 1995, with the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 189 states opted to remove the systemic barriers that restrain women from equal participation in all areas of life. Now, 25 years later, we are still demanding #EachforEqual.
Through their fight for equality, peace, and justice, WHRDs at all levels of society are daily working to eradicate discriminatory stereotypes, challenge unequal power structures, and promote justice for all. We applaud the WHRDs who continue to raise their voices in a world which is still based on patriarchal norms and misogynistic attitudes. The diverse and essential human rights work carried out by WHRDs make them a cornerstone in human rights promotion.
WHRDs are paving the way for justice. In Sudan, women activists spearheaded the 2019 revolution which ousted the Omar al-Bashir regime. In South Africa, women and girls are at the forefront of the fight for social justice, including female lawyers who bring women’s socioeconomic rights cases to the courts.
WHRDs are paving the way for women’s political participation. The number of women in political leadership positions has increased in Africa. For the first time in Kenya’s history, women were elected to serve as governors and senators in their 2017 election. Currently, fifty percent of Ethiopia’s cabinet consists of women, including many ministerial posts.
WHRDs are speaking up for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Women across the continent continue to advocate for SRHR, including at a pan-African level. Many countries in Africa have adopted national laws against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the rate of FGM has drastically dropped in East Africa. Maternal health has greatly improved, and there has been a significant decrease in maternal deaths.
WHRDs are champions for land rights, and they are advocating to mitigate the effects of climate change. African WHRDs are at the forefront of land preservation and the fight against climate change in Africa, and continue to inspire and to call on state authorities to take action – from the Kenyan land rights activist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, to young women activists from Nigeria and Uganda, and elsewhere.
The complexity of WHRDs’ challenges, where gender stereotypes and sexual objectification are largely intertwined with traditions and social norms, results in serious intersecting forms of marginalisation. WHRDs are often viewed as provoking gender roles, leading to stigma, ostracism, and attacks – by state and non-state actors.
In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981), several significant regional and international frameworks have been adopted to safeguard the rights of women and WHRDs over the past 40 years.
Adopted in 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), described as an international bill of rights for women, sets up an agenda for national action to end discrimination. However, in Africa, Somalia and Sudan are yet to ratify CEDAW.
Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Declaration is seen as most progressive blueprint for women, with 189 signatories, and was set out to remove the systemic barriers that hold women back from equal participation in all areas of life – including the right to protect and promote human rights.
Adopted in 1999, the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) recognises the important role of WHRDs, and outlines obligations of state authorities to protect WHRDs.
Adopted in 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) is one of the most progressive legal instruments providing a comprehensive set of human rights for African women.
Despite these regional and international declarations and treaties, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Moreover, several countries have yet to ratify all the instruments. The 2030 agenda is ten years away, and in order to meet the needs and address challenges faced by WHRDs, we need more progressive action by state authorities, and regional and international actors.
We, the undersigned, demand more protection and promotion of WHRDs in Africa,
We call on state authorities to ensure that violations against women human rights defenders committed by state and non-state actors are promptly and impartially investigated and that those responsible are held accountable;
We call on state authorities to recognise and acknowledge the crucial role played by women human rights defenders as an initial step towards their protection;
We call on state authorities to adopt and implement national legislation to safeguard the rights of women human rights defenders, to ensure they work in a safe environment free from attacks, reprisals, and unreasonable restrictions;
We call on state authorities to comply with regional and international legal framework protecting women’s rights and the rights of women human rights defenders, and allow the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to receive individual complaints and launch inquiry procedures, by making the necessary declaration under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and/or ratifying its Optional Protocol (OP-CEDAW), or lifting reservations;
We call on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders, women’s rights, and on freedom of opinion and expression to assess the situation of women human rights defenders and present recommendations to state authorities for the advancement of women’s rights;
We call on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to strengthen and adapt protection mechanisms for WHRDs in Africa, including sensitisation and more awareness campaigns of the existing protection mechanisms;
We call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to continue mainstreaming the promotion and protection of women’s rights, the fight against gender discrimination, and the promotion of gender equality into its work, especially the situation of women human rights defenders and their specific protection needs.
Signatories,
The Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York is opening a new Call for Nominations for the Protective Fellowship Scheme for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The Centre is looking for up to five defenders who are expected to stay in York for 3-6 months. New Fellows are expected to start in York on 15 September 2020. Nominations for female human rights defenders are particularly welcome.
The Centre for Applied Human Rights in York provides human rights defenders at risk with an opportunity to enhance their research skills and share their expertise with other human rights defenders, academics and students. During their stay they will work on a research project related to their work in their home country/region and attend human rights courses taught at the Centre. The Fellows will be supervised by Centre staff in their research projects. For specific information on eligibility criteria and an overview of the Scheme, please see attached documentation.
Nominations are accepted from recognised civil society organisations and/or organisations working specifically with human rights defenders. Organisations may nominate up to two defenders. Organisations may not nominate their own employees.
To nominate a human rights defender for the Protective Fellowship Scheme, please visit http://www.york.ac.uk/cahr
Palais des Nations, Geneva
Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya
10th December 2019
On behalf of the Defenders Coalition, which is the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya, I thank the Organizers of this Pre-session for this opportunity to raise some of the key human rights defenders concerns from Kenya.
During its second UPR cycle, the Government of Kenya received 11 recommendations related to HRDs, including CSOs and one on peaceful assembly. We are particularly concerned that the legitimate role of protection and promotion of human rights carried on by human rights defenders and Civil Society Organizations is criminalized and target for reprisal by both state and non-state actors. One particular concern and a challenge for us, is the extended use of surveillance by both state and non-state actors, targeting HRD because of the nature of their work, facilitating other abuses of human rights and limiting the freedom to conduct their activities.
The Defenders Coalition has noted the following challenges since Kenya’s 2nd UPR cycle:
Violations of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly; Human Rights Defenders more than often use demonstrations as a form of expression. However, state officials have routinely denied or prohibited peaceful assemblies through banning of scheduled protests, arrests of protesters and use of excessive force on protestors resulting to injuries and deaths. During its second UPR review, Kenya accepted one recommendation “to […] guarantee peaceful assembly of journalists, activists and participants in demonstrations.” Article 37 of the Constitution protects the right “peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.” However, as evidenced below, the government has failed to realise this recommendation adequately. In the month of September 2019 alone, 43 people were arrested in the course of protests.
Threats to Freedom of Association: the government continues to interfere in the operations of NGOs. On 16 August 2017, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), accompanied by Kenyan police officers, attempted to enter the offices of the Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) without notice and with a defective search warrant. The attempted raid came two days after AfriCOG, together with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), were served with a notice of deregistration by the NGO Coordination Board.
Harassment, intimidation, and attacks against human rights defenders, civil society activists.
Since the last UPR review, the Government has partially implemented the recommendations it accepted to implement. Other than public pronouncements by the investigative agencies (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of Criminal Investigations) at human rights forums, the government has not intensified its efforts to ensure decriminalization of HRDs and recognition of their work. On 22 June 2018, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, through a letter to the Director of Criminal Investigations and Witness Protection Agency, requested the protection of HRDs advocating against lead poisoning in the Owino Uhuru slums (Mombasa).
In light of these updates and observations, we urge the Government of Kenya to:
Delivered by Francis Ndegwa, Communications Officer, Defenders Coalition
Seasons greetings to you!
On behalf of Defenders Coalition team and the Human rights defenders in Kenya I would like to thank you for your unwavering support during the year.
You have been party of our success journey to reach out and offer support to human rights champions whenever they were at risk. You also embraced our 2019 signature campaign for sustainability and building awareness on human rights defending .
The #ClimbForJustice Campaign successfully celebrated human rights defenders as true heroes at Mashujaa Day Concert. We are also pleased that you were part of our successful efforts to Summit Mt. Kenya’s Lenana peak on Jamhuri Day for the Justice cause and raise funds to set up a human rights centre to more sustainably continue touching the lives of thousands of HRDs throughout Kenya that Defend rights at great risk.
We hope we can continue to count on your exceptional support in raising Ksh. 50 million target we need to champion the rights of all human rights defenders and set up a home to advance human rights. We have so managed to raise 10% of this target.
We wish you a relaxing, safe and wonderful holiday season, merry Christmas (to my Christian brothers and sisters) and happy new year.
Thank you
Kamau Ngugi on behalf of Defenders Coalition Team
The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) will next week set up a special fund through which billions of shillings amassed through corruption will be collected and returned to the public.
Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji said on Friday that his office will create the fund on Monday to ensure proceeds of graft are reclaimed and returned to society
“On Monday, we will conclude setting up of Prosecution Fund that will collect all monies that have been recovered from corruption,” Mr Haji told the media at Old Moses Camp at the base of Mt Kenya.
“We realised that the scourge of corruption and impunity is actually hindering our realisation of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, on the Bill of Rights.”
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The DPP also welcomed back a group of human rights activists who scaled Mt Kenya in a bid to create awareness on victims of rights violations.
He said part of the monies recovered from corruption deals will help the group set up a wellness and training center for human rights defenders in Nairobi.
Amnesty International’s Executive Director for Kenya, Mr Houghton Irungu said, “We must put an end to corruption and impunity to ensure every Kenyan has a right to dignity and safety, regardless of where they come from.”
Kamau Ngugi, Coalition for Human Rights Defenders Executive Director, said they climbed Africa’s second highest mountain to highlight the plight of human rights activists and the need for government organs to protect them against violation of their freedom of expression.
“Our key goal is not only to conquer the mountain but to also raise awareness about social injustices and raise money to construct a center for human rights defenders next year.”
Read the Full Story By Daily Nation Here:https://www.nation.co.ke/news/DPP-Haji-sets-up-Prosecution-Fund/1056-5384288-ljf3tp/index.html
COMMUNIQUE ON RESOLUTIONS OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, NGONG HILLS HOTEL, ON THIS DAY, 29TH NOVEMBER 2019, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
We, the women leaders of Kenya,
Noting that the Constitution of Kenya guarantees equality of men and women and prohibits any forms of discrimination;
Honouring those women who have struggled in the fight for human rights for all; gender equality and equity;
Cognizant of the vital role that women play in democracy and governance;
Acknowledging that women constitute over half of the population of this country;
Emphasizing our commitment to the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women in Kenya;
Committed to nurturing and protecting the hard won fundamental rights and freedoms that guarantee womens’ full and equal participation in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres;
Exercising our sovereign and inalienable rights to fully participate in the governance and development of this country,
Do hereby make the following resolutions:
SIGNED BY 200 WOMEN LEADERS LEADERS AND WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, DRAWN FROM ALL THE 47 COUNTIES OF KENYA GATHERED AT NGONG HILLS HOTEL TO CELEBRATE THE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
30 November 2019 – Nairobi, Kenya.
The Defenders Coalition (National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya) and the Working Group on Human Rights Defenders announced today the winners of the 2019 Human Rights Defenders awards during a ceremony held in Nairobi at the Residence of the French Ambassador.
The 2019 winners are:
Human Rights Defender of the Year: Wilfred Olal and Social Justice Centres Working Group
Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year: Benazir Mohammed and Intersex Persons Society of Kenya
Munir Mazrui Lifetime achievement: Denis Nzioka, Peninah Mwangi and the Late Onyango Oloo.
For the fourth consecutive year, and chosen by an independent selection panel of eminent Kenyans, chaired by Dr Willy Mutunga, the three different awards were handed out to the winners for their outstanding work in the field of human rights. Some of the selection criteria included civil courage, leadership, innovation, demonstrable impact of the Human Rights Defender’s work on the community, and creativity.
“In every community, there are individuals who stand out. They defend human rights, and they do so at times under very extraordinary circumstances,” says Kamau Ngugi, Executive Director of the Defenders Coalition. “The good bit is that their work is appreciated by the society but their work is only known to the communities around them and the areas they have had an impact across the world. The awards ceremony is a special occasion to honour those courageous individuals who do excellent work within our communities.”
The objective of the Awards ceremony is to honor the extraordinary work of Human Rights Defenders in the protection of human rights while they face many challenges in their capacity of agents of social change and transformation. An important aim of the awards is to improve the safety and protection of Human Rights Defenders as they benefit from the visibility and international recognition.
The Awards ceremony is an initiative of the Human Rights Defenders Working Group, currently presided by the Defenders Coalition and co- chaired by Belgium Embassy in Nairobi. The Working Group brings together civil society organizations, activists and development partners to pursue the universal goal of protecting human rights and the defenders of these rights.
For more information, or interview requests, please contact:
Mr. Francis Ndegwa, Communications Officer, Defenders Coalition, 0705 692 347 francis@hrdcoalition.org
Notes to the Editors:
Further details on the 2019 Winners:
Human Rights Defender of the Year: Wilfred Olal and Social Justice Centres Working Group
Wilfred Olal
Wilfred is the coordinator of Dandora Community Justice Center and the Convener of the Social Justice Centers Working Group. He is a husband and a father of three kids. Apart from being a Human rights defender, he is a farmer and businessman in the supplies industry.
Olal started his Human rights work in 2005 by joining The Bunge la Mwananchi social movement as a member and rose to the position of the National Coordinator, where they advocated for the expansion of the civic space and a campaign on the right to protest against corruption and Impunity.
In 2014, he joined hands with other HRDs and came up with the idea of setting up social justice centres to advocate for social justice and Human rights in the informal areas of Nairobi. They started with Mathare social justice Centre, and later Dandora community justice Centre. The centres have since grown up to outside Nairobi and in September 2019, Rubaga social justice centres was launched in Kampala.
Social Justice Centres Working Group
The Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCWG) is a consortium of 28 justice centres mainly based in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa’s informal settlement. Collectively, the justice centres are a movement advocating for the realization of social justice within some of Kenya’s most marginalized communities. The SJCWG advocates and fights for the promotion of human rights in all spheres of their respective communities through documentation, monitoring, reporting of cases of Human Rights violations and holding of community dialogues within their areas of advocacy.
Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year: Benazir Mohammed and Intersex Persons Society of Kenya
Benazir Mohammed
Benazir is a an FGM survivor and Anti-FGM crusader from Garissa. She is a founder and has been working as the director of Silver Lining Kenya (SLK) for the last 3 years. Through this initiative, Benazir and her team advocate for the rights of young girls especially on education, reproductive health and ending different forms of GBV.
Other than being a HRD, she recently started a social enterprise called Pendo Africa Industries based in Garissa that makes re-usable sanitary towels, creating employment for local women and youth. Benazir’s human rights work is inspired by the young girls she mentors, who now can advocate for their rights and encourage other girls to speak out.
Intersex Persons Society of Kenya
IPSK is an initiative that started in Nairobi county on November 2016 to provide support and creating awareness as well as gathering data to establish the identifiable presence of intersex persons in Kenya, the identifiable presence of practice or beliefs that the human rights, dignity ,or lives of all such persons. IPSK works to develop tools and information suitable for advocacy, to be used in awareness campaigns towards an open, tolerant, and enabling society of intersex persons and their families. We also work towards the protection of dignity and elimination of human rights violations of intersex persons.
Munir Mazrui Lifetime achievement Award: Denis Nzioka, Peninah Mwangi and the Late Onyango OlooDenis Nzioka
Denis Nzioka is a Kenyan based LGBTIQ and sex workers rights activist. He is also a book author/publisher, trained journalist and parent. Currently, he volunteers his skills to build, and support African LGBTI and sex worker led movements in media, and online platforms and creating community resource portal for sexual and gender minorities. He is not just familiar with health and rights promotion for sexual and gender minorities, but one that lives the work and already has established and trusting contacts in the movements.
He was also the first to report on sex work organizing via the Denis Nzioka News Agency, something that earned him the Sauti Journalism Award for honest, balanced reporting, given by KESWA at the inaugural Kenya Sex Workers Awards. Denis has been a wonderful resource, peer mentor and close friend.
Peninah Mwangi
Peninah is a mother of one son and a guardian to 5 children, the eldest being18 years. All of them are children of sex workers. She began her human rights work more than 20 years ago. After college in 1998, she started to work as a bar hostess where learnt that violence including murder of women working in the bars or those doing sex work and based in the bars and brothels is not uncommon.
Together with other Bar Hostess and sex workers, they used to have sessions where they discussed horror stories of police who arrest and violate them, asking for sexual favors or jail for the girls. They agreed to form an organization to advocate for the rights of bar hostesses and sex workers. At the same time, HIV/IDS was at its peak in Kenya (national average of 33% prevalence) and was affecting sex workers and bar hostesses the most. In some bars they lost all the bar hostesses, there was a lot of stigma and panic in the bars.
Onyango Oloo
Onyango Oloo stood tall as a social justice and political activist amongst his peers of liberal democratic critics of the 1990s. He was well known in the community of activists, and after a stint in exile, Onyango Oloo worked mainly as an online activist, blogging and writing on various themes on political reforms in the country. In this characterization, I got to know the works of Onyango Oloo for almost 8 years. Onyango Oloo lived in life as a thorough going ideologue in neither want for material satisfaction nor the pleasure of keeping friends that he disagreed with. For good or for bad, he was very steadfast and principled.
Public Choice Award: Domtila Chesang
Domtila is a trained high school teacher, was born and raised up in the slopes of West Pokot county. She founded I Rep Foundation (I Am Responsible Foundation), a community-based organization which senstizies and carries out community empowerment campaigns. The campaigns are geared towards empowering the community with knowledge and information on negative effects of harmful cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation and child marriages. She is an FGM survivor who took a stand against the vice despite being branded a coward. She is a full-time human rights defender.
She has successfully managed to directly and indirectly prevent and protect girls from falling victims of violence through a number of interventions and by working with other stakeholders. Domtila also rescues girls and host them temporarily, enroll them in her former boarding school which rescued and hosted her when she run away from home. She partners with them to mobilize resources, scholarships and food.
The 2019 Human Rights Defenders Award ceremony was hosted by the French Embassy in Nairobi, with the generous support of: Belgium Embassy, Netherlands Embassy, Germany Embassy, Haki Africa and Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi.