James is a human rights defender based in Nakuru who uses online media to highlight human violations in his community.  His activism began when he was at school and he witnessed littering and authorities doing nothing about it thus violating the people’s fundamental human rights to a healthy environment.

Since then, he knew that something needed to be done to raise awareness and bring about change. Important to note that James has a terrific ability to draw from his own experience and observation to develop thoughtful opinions on a variety of environmental issues.

James combines his photography skills and extensive use of online platforms, especially X, formally Twitter, to mobilize and campaign on plastic environmental pollution and spotlight human rights abuse and violations, mainly when vulnerable individuals are involved. What initially started as a passion project when he was at the university has grown into a project that takes up most of his time.

While, in principle, most people favor a clean environment free of plastic, campaigning without institutional support has been difficult for James. There were many occasions when James wanted to give up, but he persisted. James also lost many opportunities because nobody wants to work with someone who can ask tough questions.

 James’s persistence in his campaigns has paid off in small and big ways.

“I was also running a campaign to call for a ban on single-use plastic bags, a campaign I ran since 2013 until 2017 when eventually the minister of environment then, Prof Judi Wakhungu, banned the use, manufacture, and importation of plastic bags in Kenya. It warms my heart knowing that we have less plastic polluting the environment. My desire is that our environment will completely be free from plastics in the next decade, and I am campaigning hard for that.”

James also campaigned online for two patients detained by hospitals for outstanding medical bills; through government interventions, the hospital released the two patients.

The environment has linkages with plenty of other human rights. Linking environmental protection follows the long tradition pioneered by human rights giants like Prof. Wangari Maathai.

James believes that this award will be like new oil in an engine; it will give him the much needed fuel to keep fighting for environmental and human rights.