Interview with Dr. Agnes Callamard, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Grassroots Human Rights Defenders
Grassroots Human Rights Defenders (GHRDs) and social movements play an important role in Kenyan Civil Society. GHRDs are often the ones present on the ground, documenting cases, collecting evidence and speaking to victims and community members. As such, they are very visible and vulnerable to possible aggressors, but may lack the resources and the networks to provide for adequate protection. Since its inception, PBI Kenya has been providing solidarity and protection to GHRDs and support to social justice processes. Additionally, PBI Kenya continues to actively increase the reach and visibility of GHRDs in Nairobi’s urban settlements.
Find out more information about our work with grassroots human rights movements here:
UK delegation of lawyers meet with defenders to discuss human rights violations in urban settlements
Article by Julia Lowis, Barrister, 3 Hare Court
Documentary: “Police violence in the slums of Kenya”
Police violence in the slums of Kenya: “I learned that he had been shot down by a police officer” is a short documentary with Kenyan human rights defender Stephen Mwangi from Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC).
“Why you need to to be afraid of the police in Kenya”
Stephen Mwangi, one of our partners from Mathare Social Justice Centre - MSJC, interviewed by main Dutch broadcaster during his visit to The Netherlands. During his stay in Europe, Peace Brigades International - The Netherlands was able to organise a mini speaker tour in Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and Brussels during which Stephen was able to shed light on the ongoing challenges of life in the urban settlements of Nairobi.
Machozi Ya Jana
23rd June marked the one year anniversary of the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, along with his client, Josephat Mwenda and driver, Joseph Muiruri. Civil society organisations organised the Machozi Ya Jana (Tears of Yesterday) campaign against extrajudicial killings, highlighting instances and cases of these crimes, as well as bringing members and law enforcers together to dialogue, in order to end the situation.
High Court quashes case against Bunge La Mwananchi partners
After 3 years of regular mandatory visits to court for participating in a peaceful anti-corruption demonstration on the 13th February 2014, the Kenyan High Court has finally quashed the charges against our partners from Bunge La Mwananchi on 28th June 2017. The initial charge, ‘rioting after a proclamation’, is an outdated charge from the British colonial era which contradicts the Kenyan 2010 Constitution.
MSJC Invisible Mandelas Award and Office Opening
On January 7th PBI Kenya’s partner Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC) celebrated the official opening of their new office in Mathare. At the event, PBI was proud to present MSJC’s administrative coordinator Stephen Kinuthia Mwangi with the Invisible Mandelas award, which he accepted on behalf of the members of MSJC. 
Case of alleged extrajudicial killing of Stephen Gichuru to be taken to court
Mathare-based human rights defender Ruth Mumbi and her family recently reached an important milestone in the search for justice for the alledged extrajudicial killing (EJK) of Mumbi’s brother-in-law Stephen Gichuru in May 2015.
Meeting with OHCHR and MSJC in Mathare
In August, PBI Kenya facilitated a meeting between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC).
Stephen Mwangi's participation in PBI's 35th Anniversary Conference
This year PBI is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and to honour the occasion PBI UK held a conference on June 17th with a focus on building enabling environments for human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk. The conference featured UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst as the keynote speaker, and included several panels with participants from backgrounds in government, law, INGOs, and HRDs from Latin America, Nepal, and Kenya.