Lead by Morris Odhiambo, right, Executive Director ofCLARION, the Interim Board of the Human Rights House Project in Nairobi has urged the visiting Norwegian parliamentarians to lobby their government to reconsider its current stand on the project in Kenya and to actively support the planned establishment of the human rights house in Nairobi. (17-MAY-06) 

The story has been compiled and published here by HRH / Martin Oluoch, who arranged and attended the meeting.

The plea was made during a consultative meeting held on 10 May between members of the Interim Board of the Human Rights House project in Nairobi and the delegation of the visiting Norwegian MPs who were in Nairobi to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) in Nairobi. The meeting was held at the Nairobi Safari Club, Lillian Towers, University Way.

Main agenda
The meeting was convened by the Interim Board of the HRH project in Nairobi; in an effort to brief the Norwegian parliamentarians on the ongoings at the HRH project with a view to urge them to lobby for a renewed interest in the project by the Norwegian government. During the meeting, the Norwegian delegation was briefed on various aspects and development of the Human rights house project in Kenya. The brief included an account of the genesis of the Human Rights House project in Kenya, an overview of the human rights situation in Kenya and the concept, proposal, and current fundraising status of the HRH project in Kenya. The IB board members then handed over the official petition dossier to Mr. Finn Martin Vallersnes.

Representatives at the meeting
The Norwegian delegation to the meeting was led by Mr. Finn Martin Vallersnes, a conservative party MP, leader of the Norwegian inter–parliamentary delegation and member of the standing committee on foreign affairs of the Norwegian parliament.  Another MP in attendance was Mr. Espen Johnsen, a Labour Party MP and a member of the standing committee on family and cultural affairs of the Norwegian. Also in attendance was Elisabeth Jacobsen, the Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya, and her 2nd secretary at the Norwegian embassy in Kenya.

The Kenya team was led by Morris Odhiambo, the Executive Director of CLARION and the HRH project team leader in Nairobi; Millie Odhiambo, the Executive Director of the CRADLE. Jane Onyango, the Executive Director of FIDA; Steve Musau, the Executive Director of RPP. Carol Nyambura, Programmes coordinator at COVAW and Martin Oluoch the HRH coordinator.

HRH, a Norwegian Initiative
The Norwegian MPs were informed that the Human Rights House is a concept that was started in Norway in 1994. Here in Kenya, the project was mooted after consultations among the civil societies supported by the Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) of Oslo, Norway on the request of the then Norwegian Minister of Development, Hilde Frafjord Johnson. The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi was appointed the lead donor and the HRHF appointed as the civil society / NGO implementing partner.

Fundraising Efforts
The MPs were further told that thereafter, the Interim Board of the Human Rights House Project in Nairobi initiated a fundraising campaign among the donor community to secure the approximately US dollars 1.4 million budget that was required to establish the house. At the initial stages the project had managed to secure financial commitment of just about 50% of the estimated project budget from embassies of Norway, Netherlands, Denmark and the Ford Foundation.

As the fundraising efforts were going on, two key events jostled the whole process. The local Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi withdrew from the project as the lead donor in mid 2004 and in December 2004, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew the USD 250,000 commitment it had earlier pledged and allegedly pulled out of the project. Subsequently the project lost most of the other remaining financial commitments it had secured from the other donors. They rightly argued that their participation in the project was no longer tenable if the lead donor had withdrawn from the project.

New Startegy
As a result of the two mentioned events, the construction of a Human Rights House (HRH) in Nairobi stood a risk of collapsing if an urgent rescue plan was not put in place. In March 2005, it was agreed that a new approach be tried using United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the fundraising coordination focal point. During the same period, as a result of the intensive fundraising campaigns some potential donors including the Swedish Embassy developed renewed interest in the project and indicated their willingness to reconsider their positions over the same. SIDA indicated willingness to participate in the renewed fundraising under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

It was further proposed that an account be opened in UNDP’s name for donors to deposit their financial commitments. Such an arrangement, it was argued, would particularly be suitable for the donors who are administering some of their development cooperation funds through UNDP. Such an arrangement will provide the necessary confidence and assurance to potential donors that their money was in good custody. It will also avert situations where donors withdraw their financial commitments when slightest doubts occur in the project.

Norwegian role critical
Indications are also emerging under the present fundraising arrangements that many donors including SIDA are reluctant to make firm financial commitments until Norway comes back to the project. The MPs were reminded that the people of Kenya and the Human Rights movement are in dire need of the services that are provided by the proposed house. The house when realised, will be a milestone in the history of this country. It will provide a cradle from where the people of Kenya will majestically chart the way forward in their social, economic and political aspirations. The MPs who were very attentive were challenged that the people of Norway therefore, have an enviable opportunity to support and forever be proudly associated with this noble project that will remain a permanent testimony to the human rights struggle in Kenya.

HRHF Work recommended by Parliament
It was brought to the attention of the MPs that just late last year (2005) their own parliament made a strong recommendation that the Norwegian Government should support the activities of the Human Rights House Foundation, whose main activity is to support the establishments of Human Rights Houses worldwide. They were then alerted to then fact the present Norwegian position regarding the establishment of the HRH in Nairobi is in direct conflict with the recommendations of their parliamentary committee recommendations.

Members of the HRH Interim Board urged the Honourable members of the Norwegian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (one member was present) to use their massive political influence to lobby the government of Norway to renew its support to the human rights project in Nairobi in the manner recommended above.

Petition to Norwegian government
In conclusion, the MPs were told that in view of the high premium the people and Government of Norway have over the many years placed on respect for human rights and good governance, it is of the HRH Interim Board’s desire to continue working with the people of Norway in addressing human rights issues in Kenya.  It is in view of this recognition and desire, that the Interim Board of the Human Rights House Project in Kenya formally requests the Government of Norway to reconsider its present position and to participate in and contribute to the fundraising efforts towards the establishment of the House in Kenya. In addition, we request that the Government of Norway to direct the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi to resume its lead donor role and help in hastening the fundraising process.

To read the full petition letter and the HRH concept paper that was handed over to the Norwegian delegation click here.

To read more article on the subject, click here and here