The Shadows of Justice
commissioned by Peace Brigades International (PBI) Kenya
In Nairobi’s informal settlements, daily life unfolds under the weight of systemic neglect and state violence. Home to more than half the city’s population, these densely packed areas, like Mathare, Kibera, and Dandora, lack basic infrastructure, reliable access to clean water, healthcare, and safe housing. Unemployment is widespread. Opportunities are scarce. And for many residents, encounters with the police are not about protection, instead, the police often bring fear. Young people in particular are routinely profiled, harassed, and killed with impunity. Extrajudicial executions, carried out by law enforcement under the guise of fighting crime, have become tragically common. Victims are labelled as “thugs” with no trial, no investigation, and no justice.
But in the heart of Mathare, one of Nairobi’s oldest and most marginalised settlements, a quiet revolution is taking place. Born into communities shaped by poverty, violence, and exclusion, a group of young people are reclaiming power, not through politics or privilege, but through courage, solidarity, and relentless grassroots organising. In 2015, their efforts coalesced into the Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC), a community-led initiative created by residents, for residents. What began as a small collective has grown into a powerful network of social justice centres across the country. Together, they document police abuse, support victims’ families, and advocate for systemic change. Despite constant threats, surveillance, and a lack of institutional support, the movement has spread. In 2017, there was only one Social Justice Centre in Kenya. Today, there are 28 across the country.
People like Lucy Wangui didn’t set out to become human rights defenders. They grew up witnessing brutality, land grabbing, and the silent trauma of being criminalised for being poor. For many, this violence was simply part of life, until something shifted. Fueled by personal loss and a refusal to stay silent, Lucy and others began to organise, to document abuses, and to fight for dignity and accountability. This story is a tribute to the strength and defiance of local human rights defenders, people who, against all odds, are reshaping the narrative of what justice can look like in places long abandoned by the state.
