In an effort to raise awareness about social injustices and raise funds to build a home for human rights defenders, thirty climbers embarked on a five-day journey to scale Mt Kenya.
On the International Human Rights Day, normally held globally on December 10th the participants met in Nanyuki Town where they were flagged off by Deputy Governor John Mwaniki from Laikipia.
Rachel Shebesh, Chief Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, also honored the flag-off ceremony currently engaged in the anti-female genital mutilation movement in the counties of Meru, Isiolo and Laikipia.
Shebesh commended the human rights defenders ‘ movement emphasizing that FGM is a human rights abuse targeted against young girls and women. She called for collaboration between government and non-state actors to eradicate the crime that has continued to exist despite being criminalise in the region.
I call on the organisers to feel free to come to our offices so that we can create synergies that will be a great way to ensure that Kenyans appreciate their freedoms.
Rachel Shebesh Chief Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service
Mountain climbers comprising girls, adults, the elderly and children will lift Kenya’s flag at Lenana, 4980 meters above sea level on December 12, to coincide with 56th celebrations of Jamhuri Day.
The climbers have been scaling other mountains across the country since August this year, according to the Executive Director, Human Rights Defenders ‘ National Coalition Kamau Ngugi, and have earned Ksh 3.6 million from ordinary citizens so far.
The campaign is an ongoing process that will continue next year with the objective of raising Ksh 50 million and part of the program is to climb Mt Kilimanjaro , the highest mountain in Africa
Kamau Ngugi , Human Rights Defenders ‘ National Coalition Executive Director
When completed, the safe house in Nairobi will provide shelter for those who have suffered abuses of human rights, including the physical and psychological torture of survivors.
The campaign also caught the attention of non-Kenyans including Nicolas Nihon, Belgium Ambassador to Kenya, who took part in the pre-hike in Aberdare on November 16.