The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) met with Ruth Mumbi and PBI UK to discuss the challenges facing human rights defenders in Kenya.

Ruth Mumbi is the founding member and coordinator of a women’s social movement based in slum areas of Nairobi called Bunge la Wamama Mashinani. She is currently on a human rights fellowship at the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York.

 

The issues raised during the meeting were as follows:

• Ruth Mumbi now faces trial for ‘inciting to cause violence’ over a peaceful demonstration to improve maternal healthcare in slums in Nairobi.
• She has experienced harassment by Kenyan police and the authorities.
• Despite the progressive new Kenyan constitution and legislative reform, retrogressive laws continue to be applied and human rights defenders face threats and harassment.
• Malicious prosecutions are being brought against human rights defenders to impede their work.
• In response to recent attacks on Kenya by al-Shabaab, the Government has imposed new laws giving it powers to restrict rights in the interests of security. Anti-terrorism has also been used to justify a clampdown on human rights defenders, and has also led to the closure of civil society organisations.
• UK Parliamentarians could assist by lobbying the Kenyan Government to implement their Universal Periodic Review recommendations, particularly those on the protection of human rights defenders.

The PHRG and PBI UK will continue to work together on raising the issues facing human rights defenders in Kenya, and following Ruth’s upcoming trial.