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Our History

Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) was founded in September 1997 after the infamous Likoni clashes. On August 13, 1997, the Likoni and Kwale areas of the Coast erupted in an orgy of violence seemingly targeted at Kenyans of upcountry origin.

MUHURI IN HISTORY

The organization of this violence may have started as early as mid-May 1997, and the perpetrators included within their ranks Hutu refugees and other Coastal Kenyans. When it finally subsided in November 1997, the violence had left hundreds of people dead or permanently maimed, thousands of Kenyans displaced and homeless, hundreds of kiosks and residential buildings destroyed by fire and the economy severely undermined.

1997

MUHURI was founded by a group of Muslim scholars and human rights activists in Mombasa, Kenya. The organization was created to address the human rights issues facing Muslim communities in the coastal region of Kenya, which had long been marginalized and discriminated against.

1998

MUHURI starts its first project which involved advocating for the rights of Muslim prisoners in Kenyan jails. The organization provided legal aid services to the prisoners, who had been detained without trial or on trumped-up charges.

2000

MUHURI starts providing legal aid services to victims of human rights abuses in the coastal region of Kenya. The organization set up a legal aid clinic in Mombasa to provide free legal assistance to victims of police brutality, land grabbing, and other forms of human rights abuses..

2002

MUHURI becomes a registered organization with the Kenyan government. This allowed the organization to operate more effectively and expand its reach.

2005

MUHURI launches a project aimed at ending discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization worked to raise awareness about the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS, and advocated for their rights to be respected..

2008

MUHURI starts a program to provide legal aid and education to victims of domestic violence in the coastal region. The organization set up a legal aid clinic specifically for victims of domestic violence, and provided education and awareness-raising campaigns to empower women and girls to know and assert their rights.

2011

MUHURI launches a project aimed at ending extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Kenya. The organization documented cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, and advocated for justice for the victims and their families.

2014

MUHURI conducts a study on the impact of counter-terrorism measures on human rights in Kenya. The organization examined the impact of the government’s counter-terrorism policies on the human rights of Muslim communities in the coastal region, and advocated for the protection of their rights.

2017

MUHURI continues to provide legal aid services and representation to victims of human rights abuses in Kenya. The organization also launched a program to address environmental degradation in the coastal region, working with communities to raise awareness about the impact of environmental degradation on their health and livelihoods.

2019

MUHURI continues to advocate for the rights of marginalized communities, including refugees and stateless persons in Kenya. The organization has worked to raise awareness about the challenges faced by these communities, and advocated for their rights to be protected and respected.

2021

MUHURI continues to be at the forefront of human rights advocacy in Kenya, promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law. The organization has been actively involved in advocating for justice for victims of police brutality and extrajudicial killings, and has also been raising awareness about the impact of COVID-19 on human rights in Kenya