PBI established a project in Kenya in December 2012, to provide support and protection to human rights defenders during a period of expected heightened risk during the March 2013 presidential elections. PBI currently has a team of field volunteers in Nairobi.
“We’re currently learning about the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Kenya…. they face criminalisation, police abuse, arbitrary arrests, attacks, and extra-judicial killings. And they are those same inspirational people challenging impunity and standing up for justice.” Ann Wright, PBI Kenya volunteer.
Stephen Kinuthia Mwangi’s Presentation for PBI’s 35th Anniversary Conference 2016
2016 - Stephen Mwangi, of Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC), speaking about the Rule of Law in Kenya as a contribution to Peace Brigades International’s 35th Anniversary Conference held in London 17th June 2016.
Background: PBI in Africa
Since 1981, Peace Brigades International (PBI) has protected human rights defenders and other organisations in many different countries to allow them greater freedom to work. Despite the precarious situation for human rights defenders in many parts of the continent, PBI has never before established a field project in Africa.
In 2009/10 we assessed the protection needs of human rights defenders across Africa to identify countries where PBI’s methodology of international protective accompaniment may be appropriate. The research pointed to a clear demand from defenders in Kenya.
Our report on the protection needs of human rights defenders in Africa can be downloaded here:
In 2011/12 PBI undertook an in-depth assessment to determine whether we could establish a field project in Kenya. We went to Kenya to talk to human rights defenders, to find out what their protection needs were, and whether protective accompaniment would be effective in the country. PBI now has a permanent presence in Nairobi.
Our report on Kenya can be downloaded here:
English - executive summary full report
Kiswahili - executive summary
Spanish - executive summary