Women Condemn Crackdown on Human rights And Civil Society, Demand End to Intimidation And Harrassment
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Taifa news
Macharia David
“When They Silence Those Who Fight for Accountability, They Silence Our Communities Too”
A coalition of grassroots women leaders has strongly condemned what it describes as an escalating crackdown on civil society organizations and human rights defenders, warning that attacks on accountability champions are silencing ordinary Kenyans and undermining the country's democratic foundations.
Speaking in Nairobi, the women—drawn from chama groups, mama mbogas, salon owners, caregivers, farmers, traders and community organizers—said they were compelled to speak out over what they described as a growing pattern of intimidation, harassment, unlawful surveillance, office raids, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests targeting organizations and individuals advocating for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Their statement comes amid mounting concerns over Kenya's civic space, as highlighted in the recent The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) State of Civic Space Report, which raised alarm over increasing pressure on civil society organizations and accountability advocates.
“When they silence those who fight for accountability, they silence our communities too,” the coalition declared.
The women said civil society organizations have become indispensable partners for communities seeking answers about stalled development projects, missing public funds and poor service delivery.
“Civil society organizations do more than advocate for good governance. They stand with communities as we ask difficult questions: Why is our dispensary still without medicine? Why is our market unfinished? Why are our roads still impassable despite millions being allocated? Where has the money meant to improve our lives gone?” the statement read.
According to the coalition, threats against organizations defending public accountability have far-reaching consequences beyond the institutions themselves.
“When these organizations are threatened for asking such questions, it is not only their voices that are under attack; it is ours too.”
The women questioned what protection remains for ordinary citizens if well-established organizations with legal support, national visibility and public backing can allegedly be intimidated for demanding accountability.
“If organizations with lawyers, national visibility and public support can be intimidated for demanding accountability, what protection remains for an ordinary woman questioning the misuse of public resources in her own community? That is the fear many grassroots women are living with today.”
They argued that women bear the greatest burden when corruption undermines public service delivery.
“As women, we know the cost of failed accountability. We stretch household budgets when health facilities have no medicine. We lose income when markets are neglected. We spend more on water when projects fail. We struggle to raise our children in communities where public resources disappear while no one is held accountable.”
The coalition warned that corruption flourishes where accountability is weakened.
“When accountability is attacked, corruption thrives. And when corruption thrives, women and families pay the highest price.”
Expressing concern over what they described as a growing climate of fear, the women said intimidation, unlawful surveillance, office raids, enforced disappearances and the targeting of civic actors are discouraging citizens from exercising their constitutional rights.
“A country where citizens fear asking questions is a country where corruption flourishes unchecked. We refuse to accept a Kenya where demanding accountability is treated as a crime.”
The coalition issued a four-point call to action, urging the government to immediately halt all forms of intimidation against civic actors.
“We call on the Government of Kenya to immediately end all intimidation, harassment, surveillance and attacks against organizations, human rights defenders and citizens working to promote accountability.”
They also called for independent investigations into reported cases of unlawful surveillance, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and attacks against civic actors, and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
The women further urged the government to guarantee the safety of grassroots women leaders and community organizers while safeguarding every Kenyan's constitutional right to organize, speak freely and hold leaders accountable without fear.
Warning that the erosion of civic space threatens every citizen, the coalition said today's attacks on civil society could tomorrow target ordinary Kenyans demanding better governance.
“Today it is the civil society organizations. Tomorrow it could be a chama leader asking why a market project stalled, a mama mboga asking why there is no water in the market, a youth leader asking where promised opportunities went, or any ordinary Kenyan demanding answers about how public resources are being used.”
The women pledged to continue mobilizing communities and demanding transparency, insisting that accountability is a constitutional right and the cornerstone of good governance.
“Their fight is our fight because accountability protects every community. Public resources belong to the people, and accountability is the foundation of transparent leadership.”
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