MEET NOMINEE 4 OF 7 IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR AWARD CATEGORY – KELLY KARIMI RWIGI

Kelly Rwigi is a child and women’s rights advocate. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Enlightened Generation International(EGI), a community-based organization based in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County, that advocates for and protects children and women’s rights. Founded in 2017, EGI has rescued over 150 children and donated Reusable Sanitary Towels to over 1,200 girls and women in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The organization has been active in anti-FGM, ending early marriages and rescuing abused children throughout the county in its four years of operation. 

In 2020, Kelly received the Head of State Commendation for exemplary community service for efforts towards child protection and advocacy in Tharaka Nithi. The award came with recognition from local and national media and the general public. Since then, she has participated in various technical working groups and forums on important issues such as ending teenage pregnancies, ending FGM and other forms of Gender-Based Violence. 

In 2021 Kelly was recognized on Citizen TV as Mwanamke Bomba. The visibility enhanced her work, where she rescued and took over 20 children to schools and homes, helped several teenage mothers during their journey, and donated food and clothes to over 15 households. Kelly has distributed sanitary towels to more than 500 girls and offered sexual health and reproductive rights education to more than 1000 teens. 

Through her organization, she is currently putting up a children’s centre to provide good shelter for children rescued from abusive, harmful or vulnerable environments.