STATEMENT TO CALL FOR THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEATH OF HUMA

RIGHTS DEFENDER DR. GODFREY ONYANGO

Defenders Coalition which is the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya is shocked with the recent death of human rights defender Dr. Godfrey Onyango on Friday 24 March 2023 at his home in Nakuru. As we condole with the family, we call for immediate thorough and credible investigation  by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) with timely publication of the findings.

Dr. Onyango was the chairman of the Justice and Environment Foundation based in Nakuru and was actively involved in seeking justice for sexual abuse victims who are current and previous employees of two leading multinational companies in Kericho and Bomet Counties.

Happening at a time when there has been active efforts to scuttle efforts to seek justice for victims of sexual abuse and Dr. Onyango having expressed reluctance to be quoted in one of the investigative stories by a  local daily in Kenya point to the threats he likely received that require consideration during the investigations.

Defenders Coalition is concerned that the safety of human rights defenders has deteriorated over the last five years including through killing where  investigations on the murders of human rights defenders rarely resulted in arrests or conviction. For instance, In July 2021, Joannah Stutchbury a 67-year-old environmentalist who was defending Kiambu Forest from encroachment by private developers was shot dead outside her home in Kiambu but no one has ever been arrested. In January 2022, environmentalist Elizabeth Ekaru was stabbed to death in Isiolo. In this matter, the case is ongoing in Meru Law Courts.