i am a Community Organiser in Mombasa and Founder of the Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA), an organisation focused on promoting environmental justice in Kenya’s coastal region. Originally with a background in business, I founded the CJGEA in 2009 in order to address environmental and human rights challenges facing the urban poor in Kenya.
Early in 2009 the urban poor community woke up to thick, choking pungent plumes of smoke. In the days to follow the children became sick with coughing, fevers, fatigue and head aches. The trees shrivelled and died, the chicken and other livestock and pets succumbed to the smoke and thick, filthy and smelly flu gasses and effluent directed into the community from the smelter. One day while Kelvin played in the football field his ball strayed into the drain. The act of fetching his ball left him with a scar that would cause him and his grandmother sleepless nights.
I entered the scene mid-2009 and educated the people about Lead (Pb) poisoning, human rights, the right to life, dignity and a clean environment. The Lead (Pb) smelter spewing toxic fumes and effluent, exposed the community to sickness and loss of life.
Because of the urgency of the issue, CJGEA engaged in crush capacity building sessions and lobbying, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. In 2009, 5% of the children tested positive for severe lead poisoning. By 2011, Kelvin’s blood lead level was at 32ppm, much higher than the World Health Organisation upper limit of 5ppm.
Both employees and community members succumbed to the poisoning. Push and pull between CJGEA and the government on the issue forced the government to convene a public forum to address the issue. The forum in part recommended, “the EIA license should be revoked and be re-issued if at all upon the consensus of all the stakeholder licensing authorities.”
CJGEA came under attack from the government. Police raids were conducted on our offices and my son and I were accosted and abused by gunmen while entering my house in late 2011. I was accused of funding illegal groups and being a terrorist. In 2012 while planning a public demo to lobby and protest the injustice, I was arrested alongside 17 other CJGEA employees and community members.
CJGEA was weighed down under the burden of cash bails and rampant arrests. Kelvin was by now suffering seizures, forgetfulness, fainting and by 2012 toxic BLL levels of 38 ppm. in partnership with ASF, CJGEA was fundraising for class act litigation for Kelvin and the people of Owino Uhuru.
Front Line Defenders issued urgent appeals and news items about me that led to my acquittal in november 2012. Front Line Defenders also handled the lawyer’s bills and security for me and my family.
Sadly in the greatest show of impunity with arrogance in 2013 the smelter still operates under the protection of the local political class.
CJGEA came under attack from the government. Police raids were conducted on our offices and my son and I were accosted and abused by gunmen while entering my house.
