Mohochi nominated for human rights award

Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) welcomes the nomination of Sam Mohochi, executive director of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) for the prestigious Front Line Award 2009.

KPTJ is a coalition of Kenyan civil society organisations and individuals who came together in response to the political crisis Kenya was thrown into following the disputed presidential results of the 2007 elections. Working under sometimes difficult circumstances, members of KPTJ assisted in the search for middle ground positions to establish what had happened with the elections as a basis for ending to the violence and, thereafter, made significant contributions to support and inform the National Dialogue and Reconciliation process. Members of KPTJ also played a leading role in providing support to various processes agreed on by the National Dialogue and Reconciliation process, such as the Independent Review Commission (IREC) and the Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence (CIPEV).

The IMLU, for which Mohochi works, has been an important member of KPTJ and Mohochi’s own contribution to the work of KPTJ at the time was outstanding. Mohochi took personal risks in standing up for what KPTJ believed to be right and in the best interests of Kenya. In doing so, he inspired others involved in similar work. The period following the end of the political crisis still presents personal peril for human rights defenders, including the assassinations of those involved in documentation of extrajudicial executions. Despite this, Mohochi has continued to defend human rights defenders and advance human rights. IMLU’s work in Mount Elgon, documenting widespread torture and extrajudicial executions as well as its documentation of forensic evidence from victims of the post-elections violence were invaluable in helping KPTJ develop its analysis and advance clear positions as to the way forward.

As colleagues of Mohochi, who know him well and have had the opportunity of working closely with him during a difficult period in Kenya’s history, we express our unreserved pleasure in and support for the decision to nominate him for the award. We commend Mohochi’s courage and humility, two qualities that have made him effective in what he does.

Please also find attached responses to the news of his nomination for the award from the KPTJ listserve, which also demonstrate the esteem in which he is held by his peers.

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A

MEMBER ORGANISATIONS OF KENYANS FOR PEACE, TRUTH AND JUSTICE

KPTJ is a coalition of over 30 Kenyan and East African legal, human rights, and governance organizations, together with ordinary Kenyans and friends of Kenya, convened in the immediate aftermath of 2007's presidential election debacle.
Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG)
Awaaz
Bunge la Mwananchi
Centre for the Development of Marginalised Communities (CEDMAC)
Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION)
Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD)
Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness for Women (CREAW)
Coalition on Violence Against Women
The Cradle-the Childrens Foundation
Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO)
East African Law Society (EALS)
Fahamu
Foster National Cohesion (FONACON)
Gay And Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK)
Haki Focus
Hema la Katiba
Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU)
Innovative Lawyering
Institute for Education in Democracy (IED)
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya)
International Centre for Policy and Conflict
Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
Kenya Leadership Institute (KLI)
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)
Kituo cha Sheria
Mazingira Institute
Muslim Human Rights Forum
The National Civil Society Congress
National Convention Executive Council (NCEC)
RECESSPA
Release Political Prisoners Trust
Sankara Centre
Society for International Development (SID)
The 4 Cs
Urgent Action Fund (UAF)-Africa

APPENDIX B

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES

Our congratulations to Sam!
His exemplary courage, commitment and focus are at last coming to someone's notice. I am reminded of that time early last year when anxious to save the life of colleague Gacheke Gachihi, one of his juniors, he drove into the thick of last year's violence at Huruma and proceeded to single handedly load Gacheke's belongings onto the IMLU pick-up amidst baying for their blood by the mob. A great man taking great personal risks. Hongera!
Al-Amin Kimathi, Executive coordinator/chair, Muslim Human Rights Forum Al-Amin Kimathi

This is great news as it were. Sam is well deserved of this long overdue nomination!
Paddy Onyango, The 4Cs Kenya

This is great! Muhochi deserves the award.
Kawive Wambua, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO)

HONGERA. It is well deserved. Though these ought not to be the awards we should be looking forward to. I hope the award serves as a notice to the murderous and recalcitrant regime that the world is watching!
Haron Ndubi, executive director, Haki Focus

Bunge La Mwanainchi members, Human Rights Defenders around the country we network with, are sincerely grateful that the work of IMLU is now being recognized, we have been concerned with the IMLU workers who risk every time we at Bunge are being harassed / attacked be it by the grand corruption government or the illegal colonial police system. Sam Muhochi this is just a beginning we hope God will always stand by you people, those who defend others are rightful children’s of God.
Patrick Kamotho Githinji, Bunge La Mwanainchi

Congratulations - well deserved.
Mwalimu Mati, CEO, Mars Group Kenya.

...that's great...and well deserved! Hope you get it Sam!
L. Muthoni Wanyeki, Executive Director, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Comrades,
I have never met Sam but I have seen his works and that of IMLU through personal experience. I have been arrested twice protesting against corruption and other injustices and in both cases; IMLU has been very swift to provide legal and medical support in case of police brutality. Congrats IMLU and Sam for the great works. This kind of support always makes Human Rights defenders stronger and more encouraged to fight for justice.
Fwamba Nc Fwamba

From IMLU and as Staff, we envelope our congratulation and support to Sam and Workers of IMLU for their consistent in documenting human rights violations and defending the human rights defenders even with short coming that come with human rights work challenges. Aluta continua.
Gacheke Gachihi, IMLU

IMLU and Sam – Kenyans who know this award wish to be associated with your work in shielding human rights defenders and this award is not an end but a booster to human rights advocacy. The world human rights movements are with us. IMLU and Sam I hope you will be in the list of globally recognized human rights defenders – well done.
Fatuma Ibrahim, commissioner, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Hats off to Sam and IMLU!! You‘ve done us proud, not just through the award but also through the work IMLU does. You have been there for human rights defenders when many would rather run and it’s great that this has been recognized internationally.
Njeri Kabeberi, executive director, Centre for Multiparty Democracy

Sam has been a pillar of the human rights movement and is an excellent choice for the award.
George Kegoro, executive director, The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ- Kenya

Congratulations. Mohochi deserves the award.
Beatrice Kamau