PUG’s African Universities Hub for Human Rights (Africa Hub) Podcast provides a space for conversations with guests exploring issues around human rights, social justice, democracy and urban governance.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and statements expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of African Universities Hub for Human Rights in the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
The impeachment of Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024 and his eventual replacement by Kithure Kindiki in November of the same year was a major political development for that country. In this podcast Nheo Fumba speaks to Glorial Kimani, a Kenyan lawyer and a 2024 Human Rights Fellow at the University of the Western Cape, exploring the implications of the impeachment of Kenya’s Deputy President. They look at the charges that led to his impeachment, political maneuvers, and what the political developments mean for Human Rights Defenders and the rule of law. Could this shift help or harm HRD protection? Join us as we unpack these critical questions and explore the broader implications of this political turning point. Note: Please also note that the numbers of protesters shared by Gloria Kimani, in the podcast, as having been reportedly killed at the time may have changed, as many developments have also happened in Kenya.
Gloria Kimani is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with four years of experience. Admitted to the bar in 2020, Gloria has worked across various law firms in Kenya, focusing on Constitutional, Civil, Family, Commercial, and Criminal Law. In October 2022, she founded Wangui Kimani Advocates, specialising in family law, particularly children’s issues, while maintaining her work in Constitutional Law and human rights. Gloria has been active in the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) since 2022, initially serving as a Council Member and Social Welfare Secretary for the Nairobi Branch. In 2024, she joined the national LSK Council as a Nairobi Representative, convening several committees, including the Young Lawyers Committee, Child Law Committee, and the Lawyer-Police Relations Committee. As Co-convener of the Lawyer-Police Relations Committee, Gloria has played a crucial role in defending victims of police brutality and coordinating pro-bono legal services for protestors. Despite facing significant challenges, including attempted abductions and threats, Gloria remains dedicated to human rights advocacy. She continues to champion the protection of legal professionals and the public in Kenya.
The Uganda Law Society elections in September 2024 ushered in a new era. What set that election apart? What does the newly elected leadership mean for Uganda’s legal and political landscape? Join Nheo Fumba as she chats to Godwin Toko, a human rights advocate and lawyer from Uganda, and 2024 Human Rights Fellow at the University of the Western Cape, about the implications of that pivotal event and what lies ahead for Human Rights Defenders in Uganda.
Godwin Toko is a human rights advocate and a lawyer from Uganda. He has channelled his experiences of injustice into a dedicated mission to defend others facing similar violations. Once a student leader at Makerere University, he was arrested multiple times for standing up against systemic abuses and unfair practices. These experiences, including detention without due process and police brutality, solidified a commitment to activism and advocacy. Godwin has become a prominent voice for change through Agora CFR, leveraging social media and grassroots campaigns to address issues ranging from potholes to corruption. Their work has led to tangible victories, such as improvements in public health infrastructure and accountability for corrupt officials. Despite increasing threats and deteriorating conditions, he remains steadfast in advocating for human rights and political transparency, with a vision for a more just Uganda. For Godwin, the Fellowship with AUH represents a crucial opportunity for reflection, growth, and continued impact while offering a chance to explore creative avenues for storytelling through a satirical fictional book.
In this reflective and thought-provoking episode, we explore the evolving meaning of freedom in South Africa—31 years after the historic 1994 democratic transition. Joined by Dr Lindokuhle Mandyoli, Associate Lecturer in the Politics Department at the University of the Western Cape. We dive into questions about the roots of economic injustice, the legacy of land dispossession, and the ongoing quest for equity in post-apartheid South Africa. Together, we unpack some of the country’s most pressing issues. This episode challenges listeners to reflect on what freedom truly means in a society still grappling with the deep scars of its past—and asks: what does a just and inclusive future look like, and how do we get there?
Dr Lindokuhle Mandyoli is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Political Studies, University of the Western Cape. He has research interests in the capital/race debate in South Africa, democratic constitutional hegemony and the intellectual history(ies) of the South African student movement. He is a recipient of the Centre for Humanities Research PhD Fellowship in the National Research Foundation’s Flagship for Critical African Humanities and of the Mellon Writing Fellowship at the University of Minnesota’s Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Global Change (ICGC). He was involved in of the UNESCO Chair Project titled: Universities as Sites of Protection and Activism. In his PhD research, he investigated the ways in which constitutional democratic hegemony inevitably reproduces different in form, but similar in essence, socio-political, socioeconomic and cultural problems that were produced by colonialism and apartheid. Drawing a comparison between the 1976 Uprisings and the 2015 #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa, he explored how hegemony manifests itself differently in both these moments, while under a consistent logic in two qualitatively different regimes.
In this episode we are diving deep into conversations about exploring environmental justice through a community lens, focusing on disproportionate impacts of climate change and pollution on marginalized communities.
Mussa Kamanula is a dedicated human rights activist and environmental expert, passionate about promoting environmental and social justice in development programs. Holding a Master’s degree in Forestry and Environmental Management, Mussa brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his work. With over 20 projects under his belt as an Environmental and Social Consultant, Mussa has established himself as a trusted authority in his field. His extensive experience has equipped him with a unique understanding of the complex relationships between development, environment and social justice. Through his work, Mussa remains committed to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and promoting sustainable development practices that prioritize environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
This episode features an interview with Albert Nyiti, a doctoral researcher and visiting scholar, who discusses his research on housing self-building practices in Tanzania. The conversation centers on the challenges and pathways to achieving a “just city” through access to adequate and affordable housing in Tanzania, especially in urban centers like Dar es Salaam. Albert and the host also compare housing policies and issues in Tanzania and South Africa, exploring the complexities of land ownership, the impact of rural-urban migration, and barriers to affordable housing, including the lack of a comprehensive national housing policy in Tanzania.
Albert Nyiti is a doctoral researcher, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. And an assistant research fellow at Ardhi University in Tanzania. Albert is currently a visiting scholar at the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group. He is a registered town planner with over ten years of industrial experience. He works as an Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of Human Settlements Studies (IHSS), Ardhi University (ARU) in Tanzania, where he received both his MSc. in Housing and BSc. in Housing and Infrastructure Planning. Albert is currently a doctoral researcher at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin’s (HU Berlin) Geography Department, where he also serves as the coordinator of the East African German Transdisciplinary University Network (EAGER Trans-Net). His PhD research explores the housing self-building experiences of the urban poor in Dar es Salaam through the lens of a just city in attempts to inform social housing policy. Moreover, Albert is a Queen Elizabeth Scholar and an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Planning, Geography and Environmental Studies, University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), in Canada. His passion for contributing to urban theory scholarship has made him part of initiatives such as the Dar es Salaam CityLab, the Just City Platform (JCP) in Tanzania, and UTA-Do (Urban Theory Africa – ‘Doing’).
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