Defenders Coalition

22/08/2026

The Defenders Coalition will be joining the End Femicide Movement for a Community Baraza on Collective Community Protection and Care in Advancing Civic Space in Kenya.

This convening brings together movements, activists, and community members to strengthen cross-movement collaboration, Pan-Africanism, feminism, and sovereignty. Together, we will unpack the TaskForce report, address the initiative, and discuss community-led strategies for protection, safety, and care.
Today’s meeting is hosted by the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders - Kenya (CGHRD).

21/08/2026

Last week, the Defenders Coalition, together with the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders(HRDs) Network and South Sudan National Human Rights Commission, held a learning and exchange visit with the Kenya National Commision on Human Rights , Katiba Institute, Kenya Human Rights Commission, The Law Society of Kenya and ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.

The visit provided an important platform for sharing experiences, learning from best practices and strengthening regional cooperation in the protection and promotion of human rights.

The engagement highlighted the importance of deepening regional collaboration and building sustainable networks for knowledge sharing and support among human rights defenders.

21/08/2026

Here’s a little more from the latest episode of the Justice Watchers Podcast with Francis Auma, where he speaks about the challenges human rights defenders (HRDs) endure in their work.

He recounts a moment in 2016 when he, alongside HAKI Africa, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and other HRDs, were accused of promoting violence and had their accounts frozen following the publication of the report dubbed 'We’re Tired of Taking You to Court'.

The report documented diverse human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and abductions, among others linked to counterterrorism operations.

Through this and other experiences shared, he shows the courage and resilience it takes to continue defending human rights

🎧 Tune in and be part of the conversation:
Spotify: https://rss.com/podcasts/justice-watchers-podcast/3070090

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RT80sQ29AXE?si=9EQhd-iwboet4orq

20/08/2026

Insecurity is increasingly being used to silence people exercising their rights and undermine democracy. We see it when protests are disrupted, public participation meetings are invaded, and lawful gatherings are turned into scenes of fear and intimidation.

Today's , Defenders Coalition launch a new campaign on the use of organised criminal groups to intimidate the legitimate work of Human Rights Defenders(HRDs) and active citizens.

In this episode, we are joined by Debra Towett, a HRD from Bomet County as we discuss the growing presence of goonism, its threats to public safety, freedom of expression, peaceful political participation and the country’s democratic future.

18/08/2026

Defenders Coalition continues to strengthen the capacities of grassroot Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) on personal protection skills.

We recently partnered with Civic Voice, to train 34 HRDs on security management. The training was held between 11- 13 August in Kisumu County.

The HRDs were also equipped with mental wellbeing strategies aimed at cultivating personal resilience and sustainable impactful human rights advocacy.

Civic Voice is an organisation that equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage meaningfully in civic and political processes.

17/08/2026

Happy New Week!

This , H.E Henriette Geiger, the Outgoing Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya, reminds us of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

This principle is also firmly rooted in Kenya’s Constitution, and it remains at the heart of the rights and freedoms that Human Rights Defenders(HRDs) protect.

European Union in Kenya

15/08/2026

Welcome back to Season 2, Episode 4 of the Justice Watchers Podcast!

In this episode, we have a conversation with Francis Auma (also known as Gambasugu), a human rights defender and community organiser from Makupa, Mombasa County. Francis works with Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI)

Francis is full of raw energy that lights up every room he steps into. He has a track record of taking the lead when it comes to petitioning state agencies and agitating for social justice. He is a face synonymous with the agitation of civil and political rights in the coastal region.

His story highlights how lived experiences inspire advocacy, civic education, and the commitment to protect rights and freedoms for all.

🎧 Tune in and be part of the conversation:
Spotify: https://rss.com/podcasts/justice-watchers-podcast/3070090

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RT80sQ29AXE?si=9EQhd-iwboet4orq

14/08/2026

Today at the Law Society of Kenya's Annual Conference, our Executive Director at Kamau Ngugi joined a high-level panel on Electoral Justice in Kenya. He advanced thought provoking discussions on the critical role of citizens in electoral justice.

Specifically, he noted that citizens exercise the sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives. Secondly, they exercise political and voting rights. Most importantly, they bear the duty to shape leadership and demand accountability through monitoring leadership, petitioning and public participation and upholding integrity.
Kamau emphasized that electoral Justice is not merely about post-election court rulings or declaring winners. True electoral justice is an ecosystem that includes freedom of assembly, speech, access to information, and timely remedies when rights are violated.

Further Kamau observed that Kenya’s electoral landscape is threatened by a compounding mix of political realignment, institutional distrust, and state-backed repression. Moreover, there is increased youth-led civic action over economic stagnation, taxation, and high unemployment. Escalating these risks is a deep-seated skepticism toward the electoral infrastructure, particularly regarding the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC)'s operational credibility, voter register integrity, and electoral technology procurement. Rather than mitigating these tensions, state actors are worsening instability through heavy-handed policing, the criminalization of peaceful assembly, political “goonism” and systemic attacks on press freedom, civil society, and human rights defenders. Compounded by widespread misinformation, hate speech, and digital threats, the erosion of democratic oversight and constitutional integrity (Chapter 6) fundamentally threatens peaceful political transition.

The discussion ended on a high note that democracy is not protected by institutions alone. It is protected when citizens are free to participate, journalists can report, HRDs can document, and courts can hold power accountable without intimidation.

Embassy of the Netherlands in Kenya European Union in Kenya Embassy of Denmark in Kenya and Somalia Embassy of Belgium in Nairobi Embajada de España en Kenia - Embassy of Spain in Kenya Mott Foundation Kituo Cha Sheria National Endowment for Democracy Kenya National Commision on Human Rights American Jewish World Service - AJWS The Fund for Global Human Rights

14/08/2026

Cascading Civic Education!

After two days of intense training for social justice actors, today we move from learning to action.

Over 100 community leaders are gathered at Dandora Community Hall for a community dialogue on civic education and democratic participation. The participants are drawn from diverse sectors, including women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, Human Rights Defenders and members of Social Justice Centres.

The dialogue provides an important opportunity to cascade the knowledge and skills gained during the training to communities, strengthen civic awareness, and encourage meaningful participation as Kenya prepares for the August 2027 General Elections.

An informed community is an empowered community. By taking civic education to the grassroots, we are investing in citizens who understand their rights, responsibilities and role in shaping accountable leadership and a democratic society.

11/08/2026

https://citizen.digital/article/govt-ordered-to-set-aside-ksh105m-to-compensate-victims-of-torture-abduction-n388111

The Defenders Coalition welcomes the court order directing the Government to set aside Ksh.105 million to compensate victims of torture, enforced disappearances and abductions. The order is an important step towards recognising the suffering of victims and fulfilling the State's obligation to provide effective remedies and reparations for human rights violations.

However, compensation alone is not justice.

Victims and their families deserve not only reparations, but also truth, accountability and guarantees of non-recurrence. Those responsible for torture, abductions, enforced disappearances and other violations must be identified, investigated and, where evidence establishes responsibility, prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Government must therefore ensure that the reparations process is transparent, accessible and victim-centred, while simultaneously pursuing credible investigations into the violations that necessitated compensation in the first place.

We call on the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority and the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that perpetrators do not enjoy impunity simply because victims have received financial compensation. The State cannot compensate victims with one hand and protect perpetrators with the other.

The Defenders Coalition stands in solidarity with all victims and families affected by torture, abductions and enforced disappearances. We will continue to advocate for a justice process that delivers reparation, accountability, truth and guarantees that these violations will not be repeated.

The government has been ordered to set aside Ksh.105 million from the compensation fund to compensate victims of torture, enforced disappearances and abductions.