Shujaa Maimuna: Human rights defender determined to end social injustice
Maimuna Mwinyi a Nakuru based paralegal takes a pose for a portrait photo after an interview on October 18, 2024.
Walking down the streets of Nakuru, many may see Mainuna Mwinyi, affectionately known as Muna, as a modest woman.
However, beneath her kind-hearted exterior lies a fierce personality, one passionately dedicated to defending human rights.
As a paralegal and human rights defender, Muna stands at the forefront of the battle against police brutality and arbitrary arrests in Nakuru.
She tirelessly supports parents and guardians of children who have faced horrific acts of defilement, rape, and sodomy.
In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, Muna shared her journey, describing her paralegal work as a calling. Her path began in 2004 as a volunteer with the Kenya Red Cross in Nakuru.
“While performing my volunteer duties, an area chief recognized my potential. He told me I had what it takes to be a paralegal. By that time, I had not met one, nor did I know much about the paralegal space,” she recounts, reflecting on her paralegal training between 2009 to 2010.
Maimuna Mwinyi, a Nakuru based paralegal training a group of youth.
She is speaking during an interview at Mtaa Wangu offices in Nakuru city.
Since completing her training, Muna has been unwavering in her commitment to promoting access to justice for local communities, a mission she has pursued for over 14 years.
She began her work by educating community members about their rights, emphasizing the importance of understanding where rights begin and end.
“Regarding the rights of women and people with disabilities (PWDs), there was a significant knowledge gap., I met people in barazas and other social gatherings to educate them on matters sheria,” Muna notes, adding that it is through her community engagements that she became a trusted resource for those seeking justice.
Muna narrates her first case which involved a young girl who was a victim of defilement and child trafficking.
“In 2010, I encountered a case that shook me to my core. The girl had suffered unimaginable trauma; she was coerced into aborting her child and was nearly sold to a foreigner,” Munah explains. Tragically, despite her efforts, the case fell apart when the family was compromised and withdrew their complaint.
Maimuna Mwinyi a Human rights defender and Paralegal alongside Brian Silweyz during the Mashujaa concert in Nakuru.
She notes that as the case got to its final stages, the girl was already 18 years and the family dropped the case, noting she had been married and had no reason to pursue it.
But Muna’s resolve remains unshaken, even in the face of systemic challenges.
She has been present at police stations, advocating for the release of youths who have been unjustly arrested. She says over the years she has noted that arbitrary arrest by police officers in Nakuru has been normalised.
For Munah, receiving a call from an unknown number often signals a child in need or someone needing advice matters law. Through her career, she has handled more than 100 cases across Nakuru and other counties, all pro bono.
Just like any other Human rights defender, Munah has to live with threats sometimes from perpetrators or family members who did not want a matter taken beyond the family compound.
"I always do everything in the best interest of the child, not the parent. I have had people come to my door step demanding their child back yet they are under child protection as a case went on. This has made me teach my children to be alert and careful now that they understand my job," she says.
She goes on to say, seeing smiles on people after they get justice is more than enough payment for her.
For Muna, offering support to community members helps her live her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer.