I came to Mathare when I was six. I remember very clearly that during those times, there was no mistrust between the different communities. I would play with all my neighbours whether they were Kikuyu, Luo, or Borana. They were like my siblings, and their parents were like my parents. But this comradery and positive community spirit started to change during my early teens.

I was born in Kisii in south-western Kenya, but I grew up in Mukuru, one of the biggest slums in Nairobi. I am an only child and my mother passed away before I reached the age of 10.

I grew up in Mabatini ward in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi. At home I experienced domestic violence; my dad beat my mum all the time. In this ward, women are not always recognised by men. Women could not even stand for a small position in the community because men believed that women should stay in the kitchen, not stand for a position in our community.

In mid-May, PBI Kenya, in association with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), held a Training Course on Human Rights Documenting, Reporting and Advocacy Skills for the Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) Toolkit Organisers and other women human rights defenders that PBI works with.

Growing up in Kibera was a challenge. My parents were not well off and my father had an alcohol problem and beat my mother a lot. Because of these experiences, I decided I did not want to raise my own child in the same way and I have been trying my best to raise my girl in a good way.

Kenyan human rights defender Wanjiku was asked to speak at a conference in Brussels on protection mechanisms for lawyers at risk.

Kenyan human rights defenders (HRDs) face numerous challenges and threats, particularly if they work in urban settlements and rural areas, or if they work on sensitive topics such as land rights, corruption and violations by the police. 

Kenya hosts a large refugee population, including many human rights defenders who have been forced into exile for defending human rights in their home country. Faisal Elbagir is one of these exiles that PBI Kenya has had the privilege to meet.

From 21-22 February, the EHAHRD-Net held its third General Assembly in Kampala, Uganda. PBI Kenya had the pleasure of attending the GA of the largest regional network of HRDs, which brought together individuals from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.