NAIROBI, Kenya - Human rights defenders, civil society organisations, duty bearers and other stakeholders came together for a multi-stakeholder dialogue convened by Peace Brigades International (PBI) Kenya and the Kenya National commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to discuss the protection, safety and well-being of human rights defenders in Kenya.
The dialogue provided an important platform for stakeholders to reflect on the evolving human rights environment in the country, strengthen collaboration between rights holders and duty bearers, and explore practical approaches to protecting human rights defenders facing increasing risks.
The meeting was organised against the backdrop of a challenging human rights context marked by concerns around human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, as well as increasing risks faced by human rights defenders.
PBI Kenya, a member of the missing voices coalition, noted that the dialogue was intended to foster constructive engagement, address misconceptions surrounding the work of human rights defenders and strengthen trust between rights holders and duty bearers.
The Missing Voices Coalition was represented by its National Coordinator, Shukri Wachu, who shared the coalition's work in documenting and monitoring cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Kenya.
During the meeting, Wachu presented data and insights from the Missing Voices Coalition's monitoring work, highlighting the importance of evidence-based documentation in understanding patterns of violations, informing advocacy and strengthening accountability efforts.
He also spoke about the coalition's recent launch of the Haki Kwa Wote campaign which brought together families of victims, survivours, human rights organisations and other actors to renew the call for stronger legal and institutional action against enforced disappearances in Kenya.
"The national campaign seeks to ensure that victims and their families are not left without meaningful avenues for truth, justice, accountability and support." he said further noting,"At the heart of the campaign is a call for Kenya to criminalise enforced disappearance through specific legislation, ratify and domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and fully implement the protections already provided under the Victim Protection Act, 2014."
The discussion also highlighted the need for stronger coordination among organisations working to protect human rights defenders. PBI Kenya's concept note emphasises the importance of collaboration among rights holders, duty bearers, psychosocial service providers and civil society organisations, including the development of practical recommendations for strengthening the safety, resilience and well-being of human rights defenders.
For the Missing Voices Coalition, participation in the dialogue provided an opportunity to bring the experiences and evidence emerging from its work into a broader conversation on human rights protection in Kenya.
As the country approaches the 2027 General Election, continued engagement between civil society, human rights defenders and state institutions will remain important in strengthening mechanisms for protection, documentation, accountability and access to justice.
The dialogue concluded with a focus on strengthening collaboration and identifying concrete opportunities for continued engagement and support for human rights defenders, including integrating psychosocial well-being into protection approaches.
