Activist Hussein Khalid has left Haki Africa to join a newly established human rights organization, Vocal Africa NGO. The new organization will concentrate on amplifying the voices of grassroots communities and public-minded opinion leaders across Africa, while Haki Africa will continue to focus on local issues.
Khalid gained prominence for his activism by bringing attention to cases of police abuses against suspected Al Shabaab sympathizers and sex workers.
“I decided to leave Haki Africa to continue the local work and I formed Vocal Africa so that what happened here with the Gen Z protests can happen in other parts of the continent,” he said.
“It is one thing to protest and direct the ire on public officials, but it’s another to have common members of the public know their rights and step forward to claim it,” he told the Star in an interview.
Khalid has partnered with former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Ugandan and South African politicians Bobby Wine and Julius Malema.
“It is our conviction that when empowered, fully sensitised and engaged, ordinary members of the public, especially the youth will have the capacity to effectively push for and force change for good governance. Our job is to scout for and train fearless people who want to step forward,” he said.
The activist said problems that ordinary people struggle with in Kenya and other parts of the continent are the same.
“The impunity we see among police and government officials here is the same across Africa,” Khalid said.
“We said, how about we join hands and awaken the consciousness of the people across the continent and raise awareness among the young people about what they can do to correct the situation, rather than sit and whine hoping for imaginary change.”
Haki Africa was founded in 2012 to improve the well-being of individuals and communities while ensuring respect for human rights.”
“We’re mobilising thousands of people to build a world where no person will have to sacrifice their family or freedom, safety or dignity, because of who they are or who they love,” he said.
“Our history brings so many controversies into today’s society and by forming peaceful petitions and movements, we want to get rid of multiple ancient horrible issues: Ethic discrimination in any type of demonstration, police violence and citizens’ murders and improvement of the criminal justice system.”
Besides the lobby’s active participation in the recent wave of protests, it is also doing some work in DRC, where it has petitioned the Kinsasha government to end prevalent child labour.
