Human Rights Defenders in Kenya announced a statement

“The Council affirms that human rights defenders and organizations must not be criminalized , harassed or intimidated for their work. A safe civilly space is essential to constitutional democracy” The Defenders Coalition welcomes this public advisory by H.E Martha Koome, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya. Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Kenya operate under significant risks including reprisals, arrests, ill-treatment, community violence, and stigmatization, especially when working on sensitive issues like police abuses, corruption, and rights of sexual minorities[2]. The Defenders Coalition Kenya (DCK), established in 2007, is the national umbrella organization focused on supporting and protecting HRDs in the country. It works to enhance the capacity of defenders and advocates for favorable legal and policy environments to reduce their vulnerability. Grassroots HRDs in Kenya play a critical role in documenting abuses and supporting victims but often face threats and lack adequate protection or resources. Organizations like PBI Kenya offer solidarity and protection to these grassroots defenders and raise awareness about the challenges they face due to increasing militarization and smearing campaigns. The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya engages actively with regional and international human rights mechanisms, advocating for better laws, safety, and recognition for HRDs[6]. Despite some openness in Kenya’s civic space, HRDs working on controversial issues like LGBTQ+ rights frequently suffer from political and religious hostility, community attacks, and smear campaigns. Additional resources such as the "Toolkit WHRDs" provide women human rights defenders in Kenya with knowledge and tools to improve their security and protection[8]. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) also monitors government violations affecting HRDs among its broader mandate. In summary, Kenyan HRDs face severe risks but are supported by coalitions and organizations that focus on their protection, capacity building, advocacy, and increasing their visibility nationally and internationally. @https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/about-us/membership/national-coalitions/ @https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/location/kenya https://pbi-kenya.org/en/themes/grassroots-human-rights-defenders @https://www.knchr.org/Our-Work/Human-Rights-Defenders https://defenderscoalition.org @https://achpr.au.int/index.php/en/ngos/national-coalition-human-rights-defenders-kenya @https://toolkit-whrd-kenya.org @https://uprdoc.ohchr.org/uprweb/downloadfile.aspx?filename=1301&file=EnglishTranslation @https://x.com/DefendersKE/status/1948082885648363671 @https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/headlines/184622/cj-koome-distances-herself-from-blanket-terror-charges-against-protesters