Hakijamii - ESRC

Hakijamii - ESRC Our work is anchored on Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya.

We're a human rights organization
that empowers marginalized communities nationally & people living in ASAL areas; to claim & realize their ESC rights & live in dignity.

During our recent engagements in Kisumu County, Hakijamii led by our Executive Director Ms. Zipporah Muthama, paid a cou...
19/08/2026

During our recent engagements in Kisumu County, Hakijamii led by our Executive Director Ms. Zipporah Muthama, paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Judith Oluoch, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Natural Resources, Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resources, County Government of Kisumu,

The visit provided us with an opportunity to learn more about the Department’s ongoing work, priority areas and plans to strengthen water security, environmental management, climate action and community resilience in the county.

This engagement was a build on to our interactions with a team from her office who were part of our recent capacity building for County and National Duty Bearers on Land and Housing Rights, Access to Basic Services and Rights-Based Evictions in Kisumu.

These interactions are particularly important as we develop Volume IV of the State of Housing, Tenure and Basic Services Report 2026, given the strong linkages between housing and land rights, climate change, water scarcity, environmental degradation, protection of water sources and environmental rehabilitation. These issues increasingly shape the vulnerability and displacement of communities and must therefore be considered in advancing housing and land rights for communities.

We sincerely thank Hon. Judith Oluoch and her team for the warm reception, support and valuable insights shared during our engagements. We look forward to continued collaboration as we work together to advance economic and social rights, environmental justice and sustainable development for communities in Kisumu County.




17/08/2026

"Development projects cannot succeed when communities are sidelined. Public participation is more than a formality, it is about ensuring rights-holders are adequately informed of both the benefits and repercussions of any project impacting their land, housing, and access to basic services."
Zipporah Muthama - Executive Director, Hakijamii

When duty-bearers, civil society, and communities fail to communicate, legal battles inevitably follow. To build sustainable solutions, duty-bearers must step up, practice true accountability, and actively include communities in decision-making from day one, their insights are key to meaningful progress.

Let’s shift from reactive litigation to proactive dialogue.



17/08/2026

"Development projects cannot succeed when communities are sidelined. Public participation is more than a formality, it is about ensuring rights-holders are adequately informed of both the benefits and repercussions of any project impacting their land, housing, and access to basic services."
Zipporah Muthama, ZMuthama -Executive Director, Hakijamii

When duty-bearers, civil society, and communities fail to communicate, legal battles inevitably follow. To build sustainable solutions, duty-bearers must step up, practice true accountability, and actively include communities in decision-making from day one, their insights are key to meaningful progress.

Let’s shift from reactive litigation to proactive dialogue.




Today, on the 11th anniversary of the passing of our founding Director, the late James Odindo Opiata (LUO), we honor a f...
15/08/2026

Today, on the 11th anniversary of the passing of our founding Director, the late James Odindo Opiata (LUO), we honor a fearless leader and a champion who dedicated his life to advancing economic, social, and cultural rights for marginalized communities across Kenya.

Odindo taught us that lasting change happens when grassroots communities are given the legal tools and confidence to lead their own struggles. Through Hakijamii, his vision lives on in every community paralegal trained, every eviction halted, and every household empowered to demand their rights. His courage laid the foundation upon which Hakijamii stands today.

For those who knew him, worked with him, were mentored by him, or were impacted by his work, what is your fondest memory of working alongside Odindo Opiata, and how did his leadership inspire your own journey in social justice? Share your stories, photos, and reflections in the comments below so his legacy can continue to inspire our work as we support marginalized communities to claim and realize their Economic and Social Rights and live in dignity through Human Rights-Based Approaches (HRBA).

Let us keep his flame burning by passing the torch of legal empowerment to the next generation.

Here is a collection of cherished memories and tributes from stakeholders who worked closely with the late James Odindo Opiata.
https://youtu.be/RnDoDG9TPFs



Kisumu County has experienced rapid urbanization over the past decade, resulting in increased demand for land, housing a...
14/08/2026

Kisumu County has experienced rapid urbanization over the past decade, resulting in increased demand for land, housing and urban infrastructure. The expansion of informal settlements such as Kondele, Kibos and Manyatta has outpaced investments in affordable housing, infrastructure and land administration systems, leaving many residents with insecure tenure arrangements and inadequate access to essential public services. These challenges continue to undermine the realization of the constitutional right to adequate housing and other socio-economic rights guaranteed under Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya.

Hakijamii’s State of Housing, Tenure and Basic Services Reports (Volumes I–III) reveal that while Kisumu County has made notable progress in strengthening urban governance and promoting inclusive planning, significant challenges persist. These include unresolved historical land injustices, tenure insecurity within informal settlements, weak implementation of legal safeguards against forced evictions, inadequate coordination among institutions responsible for land governance, limited public awareness of land and housing rights, and insufficient access to affordable legal remedies. The reports further demonstrate that many communities continue to face barriers in translating constitutional protections into the practical enjoyment of their rights due to weak accountability mechanisms and limited opportunities for meaningful engagement with duty bearers.

In collaboration with the German Embassy Nairobi, yesterday we brought together duty bearers and rights holders for meaningful dialogue on Promoting Land Governance and Accountability in Kisumu County. This forum provided the communities an opportunity to present their lived experiences and priorities, while enabling duty bearers to respond, clarify institutional interventions and jointly agree on practical actions to strengthen accountable, transparent and participatory land governance in Kisumu County.




Today, we convened stakeholders from Nairobi County's informal settlements for the validation of the State of Housing, ...
13/08/2026

Today, we convened stakeholders from Nairobi County's informal settlements for the validation of the State of Housing, Tenure and Basic Services Report 2026 (Volume IV), a collaborative project by German Embassy Nairobi.

The session provided an opportunity to review the report’s findings, gather stakeholder perspectives, and strengthen the evidence ahead of finalization.

The report highlights key issues affecting housing, tenure security and access to basic services, providing evidence to inform policy, advocacy and action towards more inclusive and rights-based housing in Kenya especially for the marginalized poor.

Follow us for more exciting updates on the upcoming launch of the report.




Yesterday, Hakijamii, with support from German Embassy Nairobi, convened senior national and county government stakehold...
13/08/2026

Yesterday, Hakijamii, with support from German Embassy Nairobi, convened senior national and county government stakeholders in Kisumu City for a targeted capacity-building workshop to reflect on emerging housing and land governance challenges in Kisumu County, examined evidence generated through Hakijamii's State of Housing,Tenure and Basic Services Report 2026 which we're launching soon, and jointly identified practical institutional actions that can improve governance, accountability and realization of socio-economic rights for the communities.

Putting People First through human rights-based approaches and actionable commitments for Kisumu County is important for us because this city continues to experience rapid urbanization characterized by expanding informal settlements, increasing pressure on land, insecure tenure arrangements and unequal access to basic services including housing, water, sanitation, education and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Despite progressive constitutional and legal protections, many residents of informal settlements continue to experience insecurity of tenure, inadequate public participation in planning processes and violations of housing rights arising from forced evictions and weak implementation of existing legal safeguards.




Today, on International Youth Day, under the global theme "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations", Hakijamii honors the...
12/08/2026

Today, on International Youth Day, under the global theme "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations", Hakijamii honors the transformative power of young people shaping their communities into resilient, inclusive spaces.

No matter the local reality, whether in informal settlements, rural areas, or urban centers, young people are championing a life of dignity, social justice, equal opportunity, and meaningful leadership.

Youth are often called the leaders of tomorrow, but the reality is clear: young people are leading right now. Their proactive involvement in local governance, civic action, and community development is reshaping what inclusive progress looks like.

At Hakijamii, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying youth voices, building agency, and advocating for policies that enable young people to participate, lead, and thrive.

To all the young people in Kenya and across the world, please do not wait to be invited. Occupy spaces in every forum, public baraza, and policy dialogue where decisions about your communities are made. Your agency is vital for systemic change.

To Governments & Civil Society Partners, it is time for us to move beyond tokenism. State and non-state actors must create real, accessible avenues for youth leadership, resource allocation, and decision-making power.

Let's collaborate to build a future where every young person’s aspiration becomes a reality.





Today in Kisumu, Hakijamii led by our Executive Director Zipporah Muthama, hosted a high-impact Community Legal Empowerm...
11/08/2026

Today in Kisumu, Hakijamii led by our Executive Director Zipporah Muthama, hosted a high-impact Community Legal Empowerment and Social Accountability Forum in local informal settlements, supported by German Embassy Nairobi.

We brought together communities from informal settlements, local leaders, community based organizations, lawyers, youth ,Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women and pro bono lawyers to address Land, Housing Rights and Access to Basic Services in Kisumu's informal settlement.

Key discussions revolved around:

✅ Legal pathways for protecting land, housing and basic services
✅ Legal guidance on community legal processes
✅Interactive session between the communities,paralegals and probono lawyers
✅Clarification of rights and referral pathways

Together, we co-created clear community action points and local accountability commitments that will ensure the realization of these communities' rights and access to basic services.





Did you know that Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can resolve land disputes faster and more amicably ...
11/08/2026

Did you know that Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can resolve land disputes faster and more amicably than the court, as long as the process is voluntary, fair, and respects your constitutional rights?

Ask about ADR options in your area/ community before assuming court is your only path.






Address

Nine Planets Apartments, Kabarnet Road, Off Ngong Rd – Office No. Uranus 5
Nairobi
11356-00100

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Monday 08:00 - 05:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 05:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 05:00
Thursday 08:00 - 05:00
Friday 08:00 - 05:00

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0726-527 876

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