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Shrinking space at the AfDB Annual Meeting in Kenya: Civil Society Groups threatened by State Security at the opening ceremony

Published

2 years ago

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Just Shameful & Unacceptable!

Today kicks off the opening ceremony of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Nairobi Kenya.  Alongside this event, the Working Group on the AfDB hosted a great 2-day workshop where some Bank staff attended and showed great interest in working with CSOs.

Unfortunately, today, about 15 CSO members of the Working Group faced security threats at Kenya International Conference Center where the annual meeting is taking place.

The incident occurred when members of the Working Group entered the Kenya International Conference Center, attending the official opening ceremony.

Before this, one of our colleagues who wore a t-shirt showing a message like “We want our Forum back” was prevented from getting her badge. She has been asked to explain why she’s wearing such a thing in the vicinity of the Annual Meeting, and the registration desk said that it’s not permitted inside. And, because of that, she was denied her rights to pick her badge, and to attend the event.

Then we went through the gate and get into the Conference Center without any problem. But when we got close to the entrance of the main building, security guards came to us with the same question: who are you? Why are you wearing these kinds of T-shirts? Do you know it’s not allowed under Kenyan law? Are you making a demonstration? In response to that, I replied that for more than 15 years, we have been attending AfDB Annual Meetings without making noises and we never faced security issues. So, it’s not our intention to make a demonstration. In addition, I have emphasized that under the African Development Bank policies, we, as Civil Society, have the rights to free participation at the bank meetings.

Unfortunately, the head of the public security came to us with violence, brutally tearing off our badges and pushed all of us out of the conference venue. Saying harshly with us: You go out all, you’re allowed to be in the venue! Move out of the Conference Center area!

For us, this incident is unacceptable, and we are not animals.

In reaction to this Maurice Ouma Odhiambo Executive Director of Jamaa Resource Initiatives a Kenya based NGO says: “The Board of Directors should impress upon the government of Kenya to return our budges and the Bank should offer an apology to the CSOs”.

So, I have reported to the African Development Bank Board of Directors and the Office of the President.

It’s their duty and responsibility to investigate and monitor the issue.

Now as we have ongoing meetings this week with a couple of AfDB Board of Executive Directors and Senior Management, we demand our badges back!

Related posts:

Joint statement: AfDB should open spaces for civil society and communities, during the Annual Meetings and beyond. Shrinking Civil Society Space In The Horn Of Africa: Uganda Grapples As New Report Finds NGO Act 2016, In Violation Of International Standards “Closing Space for Civil Society and Media in East Africa: Forging a Collaborative Response” 30 civil society organizations have written to the World Bank Group demanding to publicly disclose the Africa Energy Approach paper. African Development Bank decides not to fund Kenya coal project

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NGO WORK

1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference 2026 | EA-ISC Nairobi

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1 week ago

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June 8, 2026

By

The largest Indigenous Seed gathering in Eastern Africa is happening this November!

From 17th–20th November 2026, farmers, pastoralists, community seed banks, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners will gather at the Catholic University of Eastern

Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya for the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference.

At a time when climate change, biodiversity loss, and shrinking access to locally adapted seeds continue to threaten our food systems, this conference will provide a much-needed platform to strengthen Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS), advance seed sovereignty, and ensure that farmers remain at the centre of the conversations and solutions shaping our food future.

There are many ways to be part of this historic gathering:

  • Register as a participant
  • Join the planning committees and help shape the programme
    -Organise a side event
  • Submit an abstract, story, video, audio piece, artwork, or research paper
  • Exhibit your work, innovations, products, or community initiatives
  • Support farmer and community participation
  • Partner with us as a sponsor or co-organiser

This is an opportunity to build a vibrant regional community of practice, strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and amplify farmer voices across Eastern Africa.

Register for the conference: https://eaindigenousseedconference.org/registration-abstract

Join us in planning as a co organiser: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSf6XOWaGnV…/viewform…

#indigenousSeedsEA2026 #SeedSovereignty #UnitedForLocalSeeds

Source: eaindigenousseedconference.org

Related posts:

The Indigenous Seeds movement in East Africa is convening in Kenya, with the potential to reshape the region’s food systems. Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network are partnering to produce radio content to save indigenous seeds in Africa. Seed Boot Camp: A struggle to conserve local and indigenous seeds from extinction. The Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network Joint Radio program boosts Farmers’ knowledge of seed and food sovereignty. Seed Sovereignty: Most existing and emerging laws and policies on seeds are endangering seed saving and conservation on the African continent.
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NGO WORK

UN Experts Put Tanzanian Government on Notice – “Ensure Transparency and Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Ngorongoro”

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2 months ago

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April 23, 2026

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April 17, 2026 press release from the offices of eight UN Special Rapporteurs1 calls for the Tanzanian government to immediately publish the findings of two presidential commissions amid growing concerns over its eviction plans.
The communication echoes the Oakland Institute’s warning that these sham Presidential Commissions are being used to rubber-stamp eviction plans without the consent of the Indigenous community.
The strongly-worded communication from the UN Special Rapporteurs states that “these reports are of profound public interest and must be made available to the public without delay…Decisions affecting tens of thousands of Indigenous Peoples cannot be taken behind closed doors.” The experts furthermore urge “the Government to halt any actions that could lead to forced displacement, and engage in meaningful dialogue with affected communities,” while issuing a clear reminder that “Indigenous Peoples have a right to remain on their traditional lands if they so choose…Conservation efforts must not come at the expense of human rights.”
Impacted Maasai communities welcome this intervention from the UN Special Rapporteurs and reaffirm their commitment to defend their rights to remain on their ancestral lands.
To learn more about the struggle against Fortress Conservation, watch the interview: The Dark Side of “Conservation”
On Fox 5 DC Weekend Live, Julie Donaldson interviews Andy Currier, Oakland Institute’s Policy Analyst. Watch the discussion on fortress conservation and the human cost of climate solutions that displace Indigenous communities who best protect our biodiversity.
Watch the video

Source: oaklandinstitute.org

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NGO WORK

Two dead as Siaya protests against gold mining firm turn tragic

Published

2 months ago

on

April 7, 2026

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Ikolomani residents protesting against eviction plan to pave space for British mining company Shanta Gold on November 12, 2025. Two people died in similar protests in Gem, Siaya County.  Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group

Two people were shot dead on Monday in Gem–Ramula, Siaya County, after villagers staged a protest over an alleged eviction they linked to Shanta Gold Kenya Limited.

Area police boss Charles Wafula confirmed the incident, stating that the victims were among a group alleged to have attacked a police post after the officers moved in to disperse the demonstrators.

According to Mr Wafula, the demonstrators, angered by what they described as an illegal resettlement by the company, stormed the station during the protest, prompting officers to intervene.

“The individuals had organised a demonstration but they did not notify the police. Our officers moved in to contain the situation, but the group began attacking both officers and Ramula Police Post, damaging several items, including vehicles,” Mr Wafula said.

However, a local rights organisation has sharply contested the police account, portraying the killings as unlawful and unprovoked.

In a statement, the Community Initiative Action Group Kenya said the two victims identified as Henry Otieno and Jack Omenda were part of a peaceful protest against what they termed a forced eviction from their ancestral land.

“The community had gathered peacefully to demonstrate against Shanta Gold Limited’s attempt to relocate them without their consent,” said the lobby’s Executive Director Chris Owalla.

The group further alleged that police officers opened fire without warning following a confrontation with residents at Ramula Market.

“Witnesses state there was an exchange between the community and police after which officers opened fire, killing Henry and Jack on the spot,” Mr Owalla said.

The rights group also accused senior police officers including Mr Wafula and Charles Emodo of Directorate of Criminal Investigation, of disregarding a court order that had halted evictions and mining operations in the area.

According to Mr Owalla, the Environment and Land Court in Siaya had, on February 5, 2026, issued conservatory orders barring any involuntary resettlement of residents in Ramula and its environs, pending the hearing of a petition.

The organisation is now calling for investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the the Director of Public Prosecutions, alongside an independent autopsy on the victims.

Fear of evictions

The unrest is rooted in long-standing tensions over planned gold mining operations by Shanta Gold in the region. The company is seeking to establish a large-scale extraction project – one that residents fear could uproot communities and erode livelihoods carefully built over generations.

Similar scenes of unrest were reported in November 2025 in Ikolomani, where locals protested against possible relocations linked to the same company.

Shanta Gold has previously signalled its intention to invest in a multi-billion-shilling project in western Kenya, targeting high-grade gold deposits expected to yield significant output over several years.

Source: nation.africa

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