Ann Njogu
Kenyan activist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ann Njogu is a Kenyan activist .[1] In 2010, she was the director of the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, which among other things documented sexual- and gender-based violence after the Kenyan general election in December 2007.[2] She was also a drafter of and lobbyist for Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, which became law in 2006.[1][3][4]
University of Nairobi (LLB, 1989)
Ann Njogu | |
|---|---|
Njogu in 2010 | |
| Born | Kenya |
| Citizenship | Kenyan |
| Education | Mugoiri Girls High School University of Nairobi (LLB, 1989) |
| Occupations | Activist, Lawyer |
| Organization(s) | Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) |
| Known for | Advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence; Constitutional reform activism; Lobbying for the Sexual Offences Act (2006) |
| Awards | International Women of Courage Award (2010) |
Background
She attended Mugoiri Girls High School and later The University of Nairobi where she graduated with a degree in law in 1989.[5]
In addition to her work on sexual and gender violence, Njogu was the Co-Chair of the Multi-Sectoral Committee on Constitutional Reform, the Co-Chair of the Joint Dialogue Forum on Constitutional Reform, and a delegate to the Bomas National Conference on Constitutional Reforms.[1] In 2007, she was attacked and arrested by state security forces for demanding that Members of Parliament review their salaries, which were very large despite Kenya's poverty.[1] She and the others who were arrested filed a Constitutional reference popularly known as "Ann Njogu and others versus the State," which was successful in limiting the time a Kenyan citizen could be held in custody to 24 hours.[1] In 2008, she was a co-convenor of the Civil Society Congress, which worked to improve politics after the violence in the wake of the December 2007 Kenyan elections.[6]
In 2008 she was beaten and sexually molested by the police when they arrested her and others for suggesting corruption might have occurred in the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.[7][1]
Njogu received a 2010 International Women of Courage award.[1]
.jpg)
In 2012 she and her son were charged with assaulting her father but in 2013 they was acquitted.[8]
In recent years, Ann Njogu has continued to engage in social justice work, including health advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she participated in campaigns against vaccine inequality, including the #EndVaccineInjusticeInAfrica effort supported by organizations like Amref Health Africa.[9] In 2022, she stated in an interview that she considers herself “an activist for life,” describing her ongoing work in writing, community mentoring, and legal advocacy.[10] Njogu has also written poetry, including a collection titled The Vernette’s Heart, reflecting themes of resilience, identity, and social justice.[11]