Putting People First

Who We Are

Our Motto: Putting People First (Jamii Mbele).

Founded in 2004 and registered in 2007, the Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii) is a national human rights organization that supports marginalized communities to claim and realize their Economic and Social Rights and live in dignity through Human Rights-Based Approaches (HRBA). With over two decades of grassroots engagement, Hakijamii supports rights holders to participate meaningfully in governance processes and hold duty bearers accountable for equitable service delivery and pro-poor policy development.

Hakijamii intervenes to amplify the voices of vulnerable communities to effectively and directly participate in advocating for the realization of their ESRs. The organization’s work is guided by the goal of promoting community organizations and social movements to engage in the promotion of human rights-centered practices and policies. Hakijamii’s work is anchored on Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya with a focus on Land & Housing, Education, Health, Water & Sanitation. It applies various strategies, which include social mobilization, networking, awareness raising, public interest litigation (PIL) and research and budget analysis to achieve its objectives.

Mission

To empower and ensure inclusion of marginalized groups in the realization of their economic, social and cultural rights.

Vision

A just society that guarantees protection, promotion and fulfillment of all human rights.

Objective

Amplifying the voices of the marginalized, promoting inclusive governance, and addressing systemic injustices linked to ESR.

What we do

Organizational Philosophy:

Hakijamii’s work is premised on the indivisibility of human rights and the foundation that everyone deserves a dignified life, and that this is attainable. Our actions are motivated and guided by the Constitution of Kenya and other relevant instruments of human rights, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We believe in the principle that systemic social injustice requires transformative structural change. We thus invest in empowering communities as rights holders to claim and realize their economic, social and cultural rights and live in dignity, while advocating for
responsive duty bearers. We are guided by principles of participation, equality, and justice. Hakijamii views participatory development and community voice as central to sustainable change.

Our Core Values

Empowerment: We enable individuals and communities to enhance their agency and voice to enable them claim and exercise their rights as a means to greater social justice and equality.

Inclusion: We are committed to ensuring universal access to rights, resources and opportunities and to enable marginalized persons to participate in all spheres of society to their full potential.

Justice: We promote impartial access to social justice, social, economic, and cultural rights for all, with special attention to marginalized groups.

Dignity: We dedicate ourselves promoting ideals that respect and advance human dignity and wellbeing.