by Inuka Kenya | Mar 12, 2025 | Articles, Stories
The call was urgent, impossible to ignore. The Wangu Kanja Foundation sounded the alarm – a plea for psychosocial support for human rights defenders, those who bear the weight of injustice yet rarely have a safe space to unburden their own pain. The stories were raw, the need undeniable. We knew we had to act.
In response, we launched a Training of Trainers initiative, equipping defenders with the tools to heal, rebuild, and carry on. Justice work is relentless, but so is the human spirit when given the right care. Through non-medical healing models, we created a space where resilience could flourish, where those who fight for others could finally find solace for themselves. And once again, we witnessed lives transformed.
One of those lives was Atis, not her real name.
She had spent years standing up for others, amplifying silenced voices, and fighting against injustice. The world saw her as unbreakable. But in the quiet of her own struggles, she felt alone. That night, exhaustion and despair had consumed her. A neatly written note lay beside her bed- her final words prepared. Beneath it, a steel wool concoction sat waiting.
Then, a knock on the door. A friend stood there, breathless, urging her to attend a wellness training session the next morning. Atis hesitated. What difference would it make? But with nothing to lose, she chose to go. That decision saved her life.
The three-day Wellness Training of Trainers, organized by Ni Sisi! in partnership with the Wangu Kanja Foundation, was no ordinary workshop. It was a sanctuary – a space where defenders could finally pause, breathe, and focus on their own well-being. As participants arrived, most of them women, a lingering question filled the air: Why do male human rights defenders still struggle to seek psychosocial support? The answer remained buried under layers of expectation and stigma. But here, in this space, healing had no gender.
The first session began with Privilege Mapping, an eye-opening exercise that uncovered the invisible forces shaping each participant’s journey. Some saw their unspoken advantages; others felt seen in their struggles for the first time. The room filled with quiet revelations. Empathy grew in the spaces between them.
Then came the question that cut through the air: Who takes care of the caregivers? Facilitator Salima Macharia guided them through the Johari Window, urging them to explore who they were beyond their roles as defenders. “Keep looking at your window,” she said, “adjust accordingly.” Atis sat still, reflecting. Who was she beyond the causes she fought for? Beyond the expectations placed upon her? Beyond the exhaustion? It was a question she had never dared to ask.
By day two, the emotional toll was undeniable. The morning check-in revealed what many had ignored for years. “I don’t remember the last time I had a full night’s sleep,” someone admitted. Another sighed, “My body is always in work mode-I never switch off.” The realization was heavy: the very people fighting for others had long abandoned themselves.
The session on stress management shattered the silence around burnout. Salima explained the science of stress, its emotional and physical grip. “Stress isn’t just in your head,” she said. “It’s in your body too. If we don’t address it, it finds other ways to manifest.” Participants opened up, sharing their triggers, their exhaustion, and their breaking points. One voice echoed what many felt: “I’ve been running on empty. If I don’t take care of myself, how can I take care of my community?”
By the final day, something had shifted. This was more than personal healing-it was about collective care. Participants worked on actionable plans to integrate wellness into their advocacy. They left not just with tools but with a renewed sense of purpose. The East Africa Wellness Resource Hub reaffirmed its commitment to creating safe spaces for civic actors, ensuring they had room to heal, to breathe, to keep going.
And Atis? She walked out a different person. The woman who had nearly ended her life now carried hope, not just for herself, but for those she fought for. She had learned that rest is part of resistance, healing is part of justice, and saving a movement starts with saving oneself.
That night, she went home. But she did not return to her note. She did not return to the concoction under her bed. She returned to life.
by Inuka Kenya | Feb 10, 2025 | Press Statements, Stories
Nairobi, Kenya – 10th February 2025
Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi Ltd. expresses deep concern over the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its devastating impact on civilians. While we acknowledge the recent ceasefire, we wish to add our voice to the statement released by civil society organizations (CSOs) in East and Southern Africa, calling for the protection of DRC’s sovereignty and the de-escalation of regional tensions. We emphasise that only a lasting and just peace can bring real relief to affected communities and ensure that life-saving aid reaches those in desperate need.
For decades, the people of eastern DRC have endured relentless violence fueled by the global demand for the region’s vast mineral wealth. This crisis, one of the longest and deadliest in modern history, represents a systematic and calculated genocide that the world has chosen to ignore. Its roots trace back to the brutal era of King Leopold II, when Congo was treated as his personal property, and have since persisted through colonial exploitation, ethnic tensions, foreign interference, direct expansionism and exploitation by neighbouring countries, armed militias, and unregulated competition over natural resources. The DRC has become the playfield for regional and international criminals, rogue agencies and governments. The treatment of the suffering and death of the people of the DRC as collateral damage must be stopped at all cost.
Despite peace agreements, armed groups—including M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and various local militias—continue to exploit instability, terrorizing civilians and perpetuating cycles of violence. The toll on DRC population is staggering: millions displaced, critical infrastructure destroyed, and access to necessities such as healthcare, food, and clean water severely compromised.
Recent reports from our partners in the DRC highlight gruesome atrocities, including mass rape and the burning alive of several women following the jailbreak at Munzenze Prison on 27th January 2025. We strongly condemn these crimes and demand immediate, independent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable.
Call to Action
We urge the UN Security Council to exert maximum pressure on all state and non-state actors involved in the conflict, as outlined in the 2024 Midterm Report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN Security Council. A return to meaningful negotiations is essential—but only if the international community demands immediate and sustained action to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access and address the root causes of the crisis.
Key Priorities
Legal Action Against Perpetrators of Conflict
- The DRC government must take decisive legal action against those fueling violence, including state and non-state actors supporting armed groups.
- International and regional courts must prosecute violations of international humanitarian law, human rights abuses, and illicit resource exploitation.
- An international tribunal must be convened to:
- Recognize the ongoing killings of civilians in DRC as the longest genocide in history and provide mechanisms for reparations for the people of DRC.
- End the systematic looting of DRC’s natural resources, which continues to fund armed conflicts.
- Uphold DRC’s sovereignty and prevent illegal resource exploitation.
- Hold accountable all individuals, corporations, and foreign entities benefiting from stolen minerals.
Strengthened Regional and International Diplomatic Efforts
- The African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) must lead peace negotiations that address both the political and economic drivers of the conflict.
- The United Nations must impose stricter sanctions on individuals, corporations, and governments financing armed groups.
- A high-level peace and security summit must be convened to establish a binding roadmap for lasting peace in eastern DRC. This process must be shielded from the influence of states and political leaders with vested interests in the conflict.
Increased Humanitarian Assistance and Civilian Protection
- Immediate deployment of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and shelter, to assist displaced populations.
- Strengthened protection mechanisms for women and children, who are disproportionately affected by the conflict.
- Enhanced peacekeeping efforts to establish safe zones for displaced civilians.
Economic Justice and Resource Governance Reform
- The DRC government must implement transparent governance reforms in the extractive sector to curb illicit mineral trade.
- Stronger legal frameworks and independent monitoring mechanisms must be established to ensure accountability in resource management.
- Greater investment in sustainable, community-driven economic initiatives to reduce reliance on war economies and empower local populations.
The people of eastern DRC cannot continue to be ignored. They deserve security, justice, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. We call on governments, regional bodies, and international organizations to act decisively and without delay.
The suffering of millions must no longer be met with silence or inaction—the time for urgent intervention is now.
Dr. Kawive, Wambua
Ag. Chief Executive Officer
Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi Ltd.
by Inuka Kenya | Jan 24, 2025 | Press Statements, Stories
Nairobi, January 24, 2025 – We strongly condemn the arrest of Ms. Grace Njoki Mulei, a 61-year-old patient, who was detained by individuals identifying themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) while seeking medical assistance for knee surgery at Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh. Ms. Mulei had previously participated in a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Health offices on January 15, 2025, highlighting inefficiencies in the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
According to reports, Ms. Mulei has been charged with creating a disturbance in a government office and has been denied bail. This action contravenes Article 49(1)(h) of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees the right to be released on bond or bail under reasonable conditions, pending trial, unless compelling reasons are provided.
We join other civil society organizations (CSOs) and other patriotic Kenyans in categorically condemning this shameful act by the authorities. It is important to emphasize that the actions of Ms. Mulei and other patriotic Kenyans who peacefully demanded accountability from the Ministry of Health regarding the mismanagement of the SHA were expressions of public feedback, not criminal acts. President William Ruto’s administration must view such protests as an urgent call to action rather than an opportunity to criminalize concerned citizens.
In solidarity with Grace Njoki Mulei and countless other Kenyans who are suffering, sick, and unable to access critical medical services—which is a fundamental right as espoused in Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya—we categorically state that the Social Health Authority (SHA) has introduced inefficiencies that have denied Kenyans access to essential healthcare despite their financial contributions. It is both ironic and deeply unacceptable that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is targeting peaceful protesters instead of investigating the alleged mismanagement within the SHA that is crippling the health sector. If the DCI is to act in the public interest, its efforts should focus on uncovering and addressing the root causes of these inefficiencies, including any criminal activities undermining the delivery of healthcare services to the people of Kenya.
The right to demand better services is a fundamental aspect of democracy and not a crime. Furthermore, we question the basis of the charges against Ms. Mulei and demand to know who the complainant is in this case. Access to health services is a basic human right, and the shortcomings in the SHA are accountability issues that require immediate redress, not intimidation of those who speak out.
If Ms. Mulei is not released immediately, we will mobilize judicial action to ensure her rights are upheld. We call upon the relevant authorities to guarantee that her constitutional rights are respected, including her right to legal representation and medical care. We further urge a transparent and thorough review of the circumstances leading to her arrest and demand the immediate withdrawal of all charges against her.
Advocating for improved public health services is not a crime but a civic duty that ensures equitable healthcare for all. We stand in solidarity with Ms. Mulei and all individuals who courageously speak out against systemic inefficiencies and injustices.
Dr. Kawive Wambua
Ag. CEO Inuka kenya Ni Sisi!
