NAIROBI, July 14 – Grassroots women leaders have condemned what they describe as increasing intimidation and harassment of civil society organizations and human rights defenders, saying the shrinking civic space threatens accountability and the welfare of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking during a press briefing at Lagos Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday 14th July, Salma Twalib said civil society organizations have remained at the forefront of helping communities demand transparency in the use of public resources and question stalled development projects.
She said attempts to silence organizations championing accountability also silence the voices of ordinary citizens seeking answers over poor service delivery, incomplete public projects and the alleged misuse of taxpayers’ money.
“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?” Twalib posed.
Her sentiments were echoed by Risper Nelima, who said women bear the greatest burden whenever accountability fails because they are often left to cope with the consequences of inadequate public services.
Nelima said many families are forced to spend more on healthcare when public facilities lack essential medicines, pay higher costs to access water when projects fail, and lose business opportunities due to neglected markets and poor infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Ebby Agula expressed concern over what she described as a growing climate of fear fueled by alleged intimidation, unlawful surveillance, arbitrary arrests, office raids and enforced disappearances targeting civic actors.
She said such actions discourage citizens from exercising their constitutional right to question leaders and demand prudent management of public resources.
Agula called on the Government to end intimidation against civil society organizations, human rights defenders and citizens advocating for transparency, while urging authorities to conduct independent investigations into reported cases of unlawful surveillance, enforced disappearances and attacks on civic actors.
The three leaders also urged the Government to guarantee the safety of grassroots women leaders and community organizers and protect every Kenyan’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful civic participation.
They maintained that protecting civic space is essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring public resources are managed transparently and in the best interests of all Kenyans.
The leaders, speaking on behalf of grassroots women from Nairobi, reaffirmed their commitment to continue mobilizing communities to demand transparent leadership and accountability, saying public resources belong to the people and must be used for their intended purpose.