Community Initiative Action Group Kenya ( CIAG-K)

Introducing Chrisphine Owalla of Community Initiative Action Group Kenya (CIAG-K) from #Kenya, one of the 8 amazing new members of Global Advocacy Team (GAT) on Community-led Development Planning. Read more about GAT here: bit.ly/newGAT

Today, our Executive Director Chris Owalla will be live on air to share his insights on Human Rights and Business as we commemorate the International Human Rights Day and the 1948 adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Stay tuned to @RamogiTVKe

@WGBizHRs @coe @IPRightsIntl @fernanda_ho @SwissMFA @LAHURNIPNepal @GianlucaCoE "Every day you work, you are between your life and your death." Chris Owalla of @CommunityCiag questions our conception of development, as "the goons, the police & the courts" are used against #EHRDs for protecting the environment or for "going against development".

"We often define development as something financial. This is why many human rights defenders are defined as anti-development. Even though they are protecting something valuable, the people and the planet," states Chris Owalla @CommunityCiag @KIOSFoundation @EUinKenya #HakiNiYetu

UN FORUM – DAY 3 - AFRICA Morning Session: Accelerating Business and Human Rights in Africa Amidst Crises and Transformations @icelisglobal’s Founder and CEO, @athwal_i was pleased to participate in this afternoon’s high-level session on the rapidly evolving business and human rights landscape across the African continent. Moderated by Professor @dsolawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, Vice Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights @WGBizHRs, and @UNESCOChairHBKU, the discussion examined how overlapping economic, social, environmental, and governance crises are deepening vulnerabilities across key sectors in Africa— from extractives and agriculture to raw materials and manufacturing. Participants highlighted the urgent need for community-led monitoring, transformative accountability, and effective human rights due diligence that meaningfully redistributes power and strengthens resilience on the ground. 🎥 Watch our video on Business and Human Rights in hashtag #Africa: youtube.com/watch?v=4l3F48… Co-organized by @CommunityCiag, @FESonline Africa, ACE (Action against Child Exploitation), @jica_direct_en, @ICI_children1st, and @UNDP, the session offered practical insights from experts working across Africa to advance rights-based business practices in times of instability and transformation. Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, Vice Chair, @WGBizHRs (Moderator) @tamalegw, Workplace Health & Wellness Specialist, @FUEmployersUg HE @ImmaculateIman, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria Amevi AWOKOU, Partnerships Coordinator & Security Focal Point, @ICI_children1st ESTHER OFORI, Head of the Child Labour Unit, Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Ghana @WamaiJacqueline, Regional Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa, @ILAW_Network 📝 Full agenda: forumbhr2025.sched.com 🌐 More info: ohchr.org/en/events/sess… 🤝 Support the Forum: ohchr.org/en/events/sess… Today’s session illuminated critical themes shaping Africa’s BHR future: -Tackling persistent implementation gaps across national and regional frameworks -Strengthening human rights due diligence in fragile and high-risk environments -Protecting individuals and communities most at risk -Empowering locally led mechanisms for accountability -Building rights-based resilience amid complex and overlapping crises ICELIS Global remains committed to supporting community-centered, evidence-driven, and rights-based approaches that strengthen accountability and contribute to fairer, more sustainable business ecosystems across Africa. 📸 (3)L-R: Dr. Youssouf Tom, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Republic of Chad, Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, Elena Athwal, and Amna Zaman #BizHumanRights #UNForumBHR #AfricaBHR #HumanRightsDueDiligence #TransformativeAccountability #CommunityLedAction #UNGPs #HumanRights #ICELISGlobal

@UNDP @FESonline and manufacturing. Women, children, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and workers are most affected. The session explores how local actors can drive transformative accountability through community-led action and structural reforms that prioritize those most impacted.

@UNDP @FESonline While progress has been made adopting the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs), implementation gaps persist. The ongoing polycrisis: Economic downturns, governance instability, climate change, shrinking civic space, intensifies human rights challenges in extractives, agriculture,

CIAG-KENYA co-organizes "ACCELERATING BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA AMIDST CRISES AND TRANSFORMATION" @UNDP, @FESonline and other regional and international stakeholders. This session examines business and human rights across Africa amid overlapping crises.

As students return to school, many parents are struggling with unfair demands from rogue school heads, from hidden charges to unnecessary requirements. The question is: are parents being exploited in the name of education? CIAG-K talks to Nation Africa.👇 nation.africa/kenya/news/edu…

Elimu Bora Working Group members convened in Nairobi to deliberate on key strategies for strengthening education systems in Kenya. The meeting focused on inclusivity, equity, and quality learning outcomes for every child. #ElimuBora #EducationForAll #Kenya

Your Voice matters,make it count.This Wenesday we are in Homabay for this conference.Don't miss it.Shape the future. #DevolutionAt13 @KDCWGke @tendasasa @chrisowalla

Act! is proud to support @KDCWGke at the #DevolutionConference2025 in Homa Bay! 🗓️ Join us on 12th Aug, 2:00pm for the KDCWG Side Event spotlighting citizen agency in driving inclusive devolution. Let’s shape Kenya’s future together! #TimizaUgatuzi #InclusiveGovernance

The aim is to build counties,one policy at a time.Join us tomorrow for this online Webinar being hosted by CIAG-K and other partners as we discuss transfer of county functions,corruption & meaningful public participation.@chrisowalla @tendasasa #devolution

The voice of the community during Inception meeting in Siaya county for the project. “Bridging the Gap: Enforcing Human Rights and Corporate Accountability in Kenya’s Extractive Sector.#justiceforall @EUinKenya @KIOSFoundation @InformAction_KE @CSONetwork

Ongoing productive conversation on the state of education in Kenya happening now.How bad is it and What can we do about it ? is all we are asking today. @chrisowalla @EricLatiff @thekhrc @RonyoOleSakau .

Inception Meeting for the project, Bridging the Gap: Enforcing Human Rights and Corporate Accountability in Kenya’s Extractive Sector.Implemented by CIAG under the Haki Ni Yetu initiative & supported by the European Union,a foundation for lasting change in Siaya County has began

Education might be "free" on paper but reality writes a different Price tag.With this in mind @chrisowalla participated in this conversation on @ntvkenya and the question still remains,Is education really free? x.com/ntvkenya/statu…

Thursday is the day to have this productive Conversation on the state of Education in Kenya.Joined by other speakers @chrisowalla will be representing CIAG-K.#EducationForAll #educationreform

CIAG -Kenya represented by @chrisowalla together with other Civil society working groups in the devolution and gorvenance aired out their recommendations while keenly highlighting the need to reject the national government constituency development fund.#rejected #devolution