Kawaakibi Foundation is providing psychosocial support to a number of tortured activists in Kenya, under their Shefa programme.
Kenya has been witnessing weeks of violent protests against proposed tax hikes in which more than 40 people have died. State authorities have been accused of shooting dozens of protestors, some of them fatally, and abducting or arbitrarily arresting hundreds more.
Kawaakibi is closely monitoring the progress of two protestors, recently released from Kenyan jails, and providing them with psychosocial support and therapy.
Whilst the identities of activists and therapists are kept anonymous for security reasons, the lead therapist dealing with their case has stated that, “The activists’ conditions at the moment are on a high, feeling lucky that they’re alive. We’re working through the violence they’ve been exposed to, to prepare for the low that will come once the trauma has settled.”
Kawaakibi’s flagship Shefa programme is dedicated to supporting the mental health of activists working on issues of social justice, or in opposition to state violence. The programme’s roots and focus are in the MENA region and among MENA activists, wherein Kawaakibi has conducted emergency mental health interventions and extended critical support to activists to date through various therapy sessions, psychosocial support and wellbeing training.
Kawaakibi’s resources and reach have allowed it to offer the same support to activists in Kenya over the last few weeks, as the organisation seeks to expand and provide support for activists against state violence all over the world. At the heart of Kawaakibi’s vision lies a commitment to fostering a MENA region, and by extension - world, where mental health is thoroughly comprehended, openly discussed, and prioritised, particularly within activist circles.
Kawaakibi Foundation stands in solidarity with protestors in Kenya and vehemently opposes the state violence protesters are being subjected to.