Above: Muswahili and his assistant Brown walk to a nearby forum on a typical, red clay road, often found worse for wear after heavy rains. (Photo by Rachel Roberts)

Currently operating through an NGO called NOVOK (National Organization of Volunteers of Kenya), his continuing commitment to sharing information and encouraging others to share his passion for justice is clear, and often sees him working long weeks (conducting meetings on Saturdays!) and late evenings, much as he likely did during his JusticeMaker tenure. Muswahili mentioned that once his hectic June pace slows, he wishes to return to some of his JusticeMakers work, even though his formal year is over. The forums are part of the Western Kenya Rights Support Initiative (implemented through NOVOK with the support of Amkeni WaKenya and the UNDP), which shares many of the same goals as Muswahili’s IBJ sponsored project; namely to increase political participation within rural and marginalized populations, to increase the awareness of rights and the capability to monitor and report abuses, and to provide a framework for discussing community problems, including those related to the justice system, and proposing solutions.

Above: Muswahili addresses a forum near his home. Though many of the attendees can’t read or write, they are still eager to participate and discuss community issues. (Photo by Rachel Roberts)

Ideally, the forums will also serve as a nexus for dialogue with members of local government. Muswahili envisions local and district level administrative officers being invited to and attending future meetings, where citizens would have the opportunity to bring forth problems and possible solutions and hear the government’s responses.

Walking through his hometown of Mbale and surrounding areas, it is obvious that Muswahili has created quite a network of contacts from the sheer number of people who pause to greet him and inquire about his work. An engaging speaker who has already drawn many locals to his push for justice system and governance reform, he utilizes his network to help mobilize people into groups that congregate in churches or schools (or even on a lawn in a patch of shade)

Above: Looking more like a lawn party than a meeting, Muswahili addresses a forum in Kima. (Photo by Rachel Roberts)

and wait patiently for him to arrive and explain the project’s goals and structure. He seems to be knowledgeable on just about every subject – including areas as widespread as agriculture and world politics, but his most important knowledge bases remain the people and problems of Kenya’s Western Province. Muswahili’s rapport with local communities and his familiarity with their unique problems will be a significant asset in future pushes for reform.

Even in this early phase of his current project, some successes are materializing. At their first independent meeting on June 7, the forum in Emusenjeli focused on the rights of the elderly and of widows to receive periodic government aid in the form of food. Apparently this aid often does not make it to the intended beneficiaries, but is instead lost somewhere along the way within the delivery channels. The forum was able to get the Chief (a local administrative official) on the phone to discuss the problem with him as a group and press him for assurance of delivery in the future.

Above: A particularly youthful forum near Majengo votes for interim officers to call, run, and record their next meetings. (Photo by Rachel Roberts)

Future foci for discussion include criminal justice issues, particularly in areas Muswahili deems more “cosmopolitan,” such as Ekwanda, which is near Luanda town and where a forum was formed on June 9th. Particularly striking is the fact that many people accused of crimes are held for long periods in overcrowded prisons, unaware of their legal rights and without access to an attorney. Though the overcrowding issue may not be easily addressed without a long term overhaul, with interaction between the forums and local officials, and with education coming from individuals like Muswahili, the forums may start to address the knowledge deficit among the accused with regard to their rights. Muswahili stresses that it’s important for people to view their rights as an entitlement – if, as a result of these forums, even one person is able to successfully demand justice in the form of faster adjudication or the presentation of just cause and ample evidence for arrest and detainment, he’ll likely deem them a success.

The forums are ultimately about participation, discussion, and empowerment. People who would be reluctant to act individually draw strength from numbers and it enables them to push collectively for much needed reform in the justice system and related realms of governance.

In addition to the seminars and group discussions he has held so far for his JusticeMakers project, Evans Muswahili recently obtained a permit from the ‘National Environment Management Authority’ (NEMA). This enabled him to hold a roadshow on 6th March on the need for criminal justice reform in Kenya. NEMA is an institution of the Kenyan government that controls and manages the environment, including for example, regulation of noise pollution. Evans encountered delays for the roadshow because a permit is required from NEMA that will allow noise from the roadshow to extend beyond 30 meters – the legally enforced boundary.

Permit authorised by NEMA, an institution of the Kenyan government.

Evans is using his grant to help women in the Vihiga district of Kenya who suffer from discrimination and violence because out-of-date practices continue to be upheld in his community. He’s working to end gender-based injustices such as forced wife inheritance and underage marriage by enabling women access to the correct legal procedures. Before Evans’ JusticeMakers project, women were confronted with corrupt judicial officials, employers and village chiefs, with nowhere to report their injustices to, and no way of accessing a fair trial.

Female participant of the roadshow requesting help.

Over the past few weeks Evans has been busy with the logistics and preparation of the roadshow, including: hiring two vans, a public address system and creating publicity materials such as posters, brochures and radio adverts. Fortunately, he had a long list of volunteers willing to participate and help in the roadshow! The roadshow was held on 6th March and was used by Evans as an opportunity to promote his JusticeMakers project and generate public awareness of the work that he is doing. The day before, Evans and his team drove a van through the market towns and used the loudspeaker to publicise the event.

The van Evans hired for the roadshow.

For the roadshow, Evans and his team went to the Vihiga and Sabatia Districts of Western Kenya. Roadshows were held at Majengo and Mbale market-towns in Vihiga district and Stand Kisa market and Chavakali shopping centre in Sabatia district.

Evans (pictured with the microphone) addresses participants at Mmbale market.

Using the hired public announcement equipment Evans discussed the issues his JusticeMakers project is seeking to address, with a particular focus on the need for criminal justice reform in Kenya. During his speech, Evans talked about arbitrary arrests and detainment and the torture of suspects at the hands members of the police force. He challenged the community to take the lead in criminal justice reform and end the culture of bribing the police. He asked the public to support the police by volunteering information on wanted criminals. Evans explained that this was being encouraged and facilitated through the Kenyan government, and he urged citizens to make use of the recently passed ‘Witness Protection Act’. The Act was passed by the Kenyan parliament to guarantee the safety of witnesses through the establishment of a Witness Protection Agency.

Evans giving personal consultations after the roadshow.

As a concluding statement at each and every venue, Evans reminded women that his Justicemakers project sought to amplify their voices in their pursuit of justice. To this end, he invited them to share with him their concerns and opinions on the issues he had raised at the roadshow.

Evans (right) and his team of volunteers award a participant of the roadshow with a JusticeMakers t-shirt.

During the roadshow, Mercy talked with participants in private about their concerns and problems with the criminal justice system in Kenya. Mrs. Rhoida Lugovane, aged 39, explained to Mercy that her cousin operated a bicycle taxi and was arrested after one of his passengers lost their luggage. He is merely a suspect – effectively he is innocent until proven guilty – however, he has been waiting in prison throughout the three years his case has spanned. Mercy learned that due to lack of evidence the case is likely to be thrown out of court. This is just one example of the many individuals languishing unnecessarily in Kenya’s prisons.

The total number of people reached by Evans was 400, with an average of 100 people per roadshow.  Members of the public who attended include: traders from the markets, vendors of a wide range of products like newspapers, fast foods and other refreshments, bus passengers in transit and bus ticket sellers.

Evans at home with his children.

Evans explained the challenges of operating in a district, such as Vihiga, that is so resolutely patriarchal. He found it difficult to convince male members of the community that his project was not disproportionately empowering women at the expense of men. Evans’ determination and efforts to convince more ‘hardliner’ males was finally rewarded as the men in Vihiga district now fully support his project. The women in Evans’ community have praised his work and the fact that they finally have someone who voices the problems they face in Kenya’s criminal justice system. On a more light-hearted note, Evans pointed out that many women laugh at the fact that it’s a male voice addressing their concerns!

Evans at a function, with one of the many women he is helping in his community.

In a major breakthrough, Evans secured a working relationship with the Provincial Administration of Vihiga district, which is the authority controlling local governance in Kenya. This gives Evans access to key actors such as chiefs, village elders, judicial officers and the administration police. Consequently, it has enabled Evans to educate members of the judicial system on their responsibilities and obligations to women through seminars. This breakthrough has also meant that Evans can establish forums in which the judicial officers, members of the public administration and the public can interact and conduct peer review of each other.

Evans at Vihiga prison.

During a meeting Evans explained the grave situation in the prison system of Vihiga district. At a 600 capacity prison there are currently 3000 prisoners locked away awaiting trials. Additionally, those who stand accused of petty crimes are sharing their cells with capital offenders. Owing to the overcrowding in prisons, many of the prisoners died. The healthcare facilities have been unable to deal with the high numbers of prisoners needing treatment for diseases such as TB and cholera. Some of the prisoners’ reactions to their dire circumstances has been violent, threatening the lives of prison wardens and fellow prisoners. Evans has been documenting and reporting on this problem, and then writing letters of petition to the prison superintendent. His efforts have led to the approval of a prison being constructed in Vihiga which will help reduce the overcrowding of the district’s prisons.

Evans plans to broadcast a two hour radio show once a week which will help raise awareness for his JusticeMakers project. He also hopes it will increase the number of people he can reach and offer help to. More details about the radio show to follow soon!

Follow him, emuswahili, and his JusticeMakers project developments at: http://twitter.com/