Kenya

Wangui Kimari works as the participatory action research coordinator for the Mathare Social Justice Center in Nairobi, Kenya, a community-based organization in the poor urban settlement Mathare. The organization strives for social justice by means of community engagement and the use of social movement platforms. The following is from an interview with Kimari conduced by PBI.

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).

I was born in Kibera and I grew up in Kibera; growing up here was both a privilege and a struggle. Life is difficult in Kibera and we live in poverty here, but this place makes a woman strong and I believe that I am strong today because I grew up in Kibera.

I come from a family of four daughters. My father was never really in the picture, but I never felt the absence of a father-figure in the house; Mama has been such a role model in that sense. She would say “whatever you want to do, you can do it.” Whenever we would complain about not having a brother to help us fix household things, she would push us to learn how to do it ourselves.

Grassroots activists from PBI Kenya's partner 

On this International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, PBI recognizes the challenges that victims of enforced disappearances face and we also celebrate their resilience.  

A powerful message against violence was sent out through art by PBI partner Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC) in conjunction with PAWA254. Graffiti artist Smokey conducted a workshop at MSJC’s office to send a potent signal to the community that violence can be peacefully resisted.

Call for Human Rights Field Volunteers