The Nubian Rights Forum is a community based organization based in Makina in Kibera. Our organization deals with matters citizenship and Sexual Gender Based Violence in the community. We are engaged in multiple programs including creating awareness on the Huduma Bill and Huduma Number and accelerating justice for SGBV victims and survivors. Our work is dynamic and diverse in a manner that favors the community, creates an understanding on the topics of discussion and leaves a sustainable impact that can act as a drive for change.
Have you been keeping up with our activities?
Below are some of the events we held in our February calendar:
PRESS RELEASE
On 30th January, the high court released a ruling on the Huduma Namba- National Integrated Management System NIIMS case. The High court judged that the government should stop implementation of NIIMS until an appropriate and comprehensive regulatory framework on the implementation of NIIMS that is compliant with the applicable constitutional requirements identified in the judgement is first enacted.
On 19th February 2020, we held a press conference at our offices in Kibera, to release a statement in response to the judgement ruling made on 30th January. We filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to ask the court through an urgent application to stay the implementation of any aspects of the Huduma Namba based on the design developed or proposed by the Kenyan government based on grounds of the initial press statement released by the government that expressed it did not intend to comply with the high court orders. It also appealed because of the need for the government to ensure inclusive procedures that will not discriminate some ethnic groups who do not have necessary.
We also questioned the aspect of data privacy because initially, during the process of registration, no clear regulations were in place that would assure citizens of the safety of their data. The aspect of data access by unauthorized third parties had not been discussed. There were unclear procedures that would be followed to ensure data would be safely kept and used only for the right reasons. As an organization we felt there was need for the aspect of data privacy to be critically engaged, regulations put in place and tested safety measures to be put in place before the process proceeds.
COMMUNITY FORUMS
We have had continuous community forums across the month in Wajir, Garissa, Malindi, and Nairobi. In our community forums, we have been engaging the community on matters citizenship; where we addressed the concept of Huduma Number, the process of registration, and tried to find out the level of knowledge about huduma number amongst the attendees. The objective of the community forums was to create awareness on the huduma bill and huduma namba amongst community members and get their views on the process.
Other concepts we have addressed in the community forums include SGBV in the community. There was a noticeable trend in rampant SGBV cases with most perpetrators being well known people in the community while most survivors were children. This caused for need for an attention to be given to making sure children get access to justice especially in the community where such crimes go unpunished for fear of shame and stigmatization. We are supporting CREAW, SHOFCO, Plan International, Kibera South Medical Center, National Gender and Equality commission to ensure justice is served in the community.
COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
Social media is drastically becoming one of the most employed means of communication amongst various public. There is evidence-based significance of social media in engaging stakeholders, passing information and advocating for change. On 25th February, we began an engagement with youth in the community on how to effectively use social media to communicate, be informed and share accurate information on issues of interest in the community. The youth involved were eager to continue learning and be social media champions for the community. We will continue engaging them in effectively using Social Media to amplify the messages being championed in the community.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Nubian Community attended the public participation forum held at Kenyatta International Conference Center on 26th and 27th February 2020 to discuss the registrations of persons’ regulations and the civil registration regulations. The community amongst other members from different communities were able to present their views and recommendations to the Huduma Namba secretariat
ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENT LEADERS
The highlight of the month was the forum with student leaders where we presented our views on Huduma number and got responses from them on their views on Huduma Number. The forum was held on 28th February 2020, and witnessed an attendance from at least five universities with student representatives coming from; USIU, Mount Kenya university, JKUAT, Daystar, Kenya School of Law, Multi Media University, Riara University and Pioneer International University. The meeting revealed there is a lot of information and knowledge lying within our educational institutions that can be employed to educate the greater majority of youth in grass root areas on the regulations around the registration of persons. Students were enthusiastic about the conversation and promised to come on board if called in for engagement with the community.
Also
Find attached a link on a write up shared by fox glove on their insights about our work. https://www.foxglove.org.uk/news/inspiration-from-kenya-the-nubian-rights-forum