Women human rights defenders decry increased threats, attacks by state

Women human rights defenders in the country are increasingly grappling with mounting fears, threats, financial strain and psychological pressure even as they remain central to the county’s struggle for justice and accountability.

Speaking at the 7th annual Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) forum that brought together more than 100 women human rights defenders nationwide, activists and leaders stated that women defenders continue to face targeted and personal attacks.

The women activists stated arbitrary arrests, harassment, sexual abuse and technology facilitated gender based violence as the main threats, adding that women on the frontlines are paying a heavy price.

“Human rights defenders are increasingly facing targeted attacks and women human rights defenders in particular are disproportionately affected. You face arbitrary arrests, harassment, surveillance and gendered violence,” said Kamau Ngugi, Executive Director of Defenders Coalition.

They stated that physical and digital surveillance by state operatives has become more common, particularly for those speaking out against corruption, police brutality and gender-based violence.

The annual WHRDs forum, popularly known as Ni Mama, convened by Defenders Coalition, serves to empower women activists as agents of gender justice.

According to Ngugi, the challenges facing women defenders are not only increasing but are also uniquely gendered.

“Women human rights defenders are particularly targeted just because they are women. For all the violations directed at human rights defenders, women face additional, more painful and degrading forms of attacks,” said Ngugi.

He added that, unlike many other actors in civic spaces, women defenders often begin their work from a position of disadvantage and that, beyond advocating for rights, they must first contend with societal attitudes that question their legitimacy.

Ngugi noted that many are forced to “fight in the realm of acceptance” before they can even engage fully in human rights work.

 In some cases, he said, women are labelled troublemakers, stigmatised, or dismissed outright, stating that this struggle is compounded by entrenched cultural expectations that limit women’s participation in public life, making their activism both a professional and personal battle.

Outgoing Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo said women defenders are frequently labelled, excluded or mischaracterised for challenging the status quo.

Odhiambo stated that women activists are mostly caught up in a constant tension between fear and responsibility.

“You know what you should do, but you’re worried about the repercussions,” she said, highlighting the personal cost of standing up for justice.

Jane Meriwas, a WHRD and Executive Director of Samburu Women Trust, stated that the risks intensify for women who belong to marginalised groups.

She added that those living with disabilities, from minority communities, or associated with stigmatised identities often face multiple layers of discrimination.

“These layers of identity create layers of attacks and repression, pointing to how society and adversaries alike weaponise gender, sexuality, and social status against women defenders,” she said.

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga urged participants to view their struggles within a broader historical and political context, reminding them that today’s movement is built on generations of resistance.

“We stand on the shoulders of great women who fought for freedom and equality,” he said, referencing past icons and movements that paved the way for current activism.

But he also warned that internal divisions along ethnic, religious, gender, and generational lines pose a serious threat to the movement’s strength.

He called for unity and solidarity, emphasising that division only weakens efforts to challenge injustice and hold power to account.

Mutunga warned that the current trajectory of intimidation, surveillance, abductions and violence should be stopped.

These concerns come at a time when Kenya is gradually moving toward the 2027 general elections, a period historically associated with heightened tensions and risks for activists.

Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu regretted that women defenders continue to experience harassment, violence and even loss of life simply for speaking out.

“Women human rights defenders are not only protectors of rights, but they are pillars of hope, often working under immense risk, with limited resources, and in environments that are not always safe or supportive,” said Kavindu.

Even as traditional risks persist, women defenders are increasingly being targeted through coordinated online abuse, threats, disinformation and image-based attacks.

They stated that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence have compounded the problem whereby deep fakes, impersonation and automated harassment campaigns are being used to discredit and silence activists.

As the country heads to the 2027 general elections, the women expressed fears that the situation could worsen, arguing that historically, election periods in Kenya have been marked by heightened tensions, with women and marginalised groups often bearing the brunt of political violence and targeted attacks.