Grassroots women leaders from across Nairobi have called on the government to end intimidation and harassment targeting civil society organizations and citizens advocating for accountability, warning that shrinking civic space threatens democracy and the delivery of essential public services.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi on Tuesday, the women, drawn from community leadership groups including chama leaders, mama mbogas, salon owners, caregivers, farmers, traders, and community organizers, said ordinary Kenyans are increasingly paying the price for weak accountability in the management of public resources.
The leaders argued that civil society organizations play a vital role in supporting communities to demand transparency and question stalled development projects, poor service delivery, and the misuse of public funds.
They said attacks on organizations and individuals championing accountability discourage citizens from speaking out against corruption and poor governance.
According to the women, the effects of failed accountability are felt most by families and communities. They cited shortages of medicine in health facilities, unfinished markets, poor road infrastructure, unreliable water supply, and rising household costs as some of the consequences of ineffective oversight.
The group also expressed concern over what they described as a growing climate of fear, alleging increased intimidation, unlawful surveillance, office raids, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and the targeting of civic actors. They warned that such actions undermine constitutional freedoms and weaken public participation in governance.
They maintained that demanding accountability should never be criminalized and urged authorities to safeguard the constitutional rights of all Kenyans to organize, express their views, and hold public officials accountable without fear.
Among their key demands, the women called for independent investigations into reported cases of intimidation and attacks against civic actors, protection of grassroots women leaders and community organizers, and stronger measures to safeguard civic space.
They reaffirmed their commitment to continue mobilizing communities to demand transparency and responsible leadership, insisting that public resources belong to the people and should be managed in a manner that benefits all Kenyans.
"Their fight is our fight because accountability protects every community," the women said, pledging solidarity with organizations and individuals working to promote good governance and democratic values in the country.
