Assemble, Express, Resist: Reflections from Protecting the Right to Protest in Kenya
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
- Venue
- SOAS campus
- Room
- David Khalili Lecture Theatre (KLT)
- Event type
- Alumni reception
About this event
SOAS London Alumni Group presents: Assemble, Express, Resist — Reflections from Protecting the Right to Protest in Kenya.
The SOAS London Alumni Group warmly invites you to an evening of powerful storytelling and critical reflection with Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya.
In a time when civil liberties are under increasing threat across the globe, Kenya has become a focal point for youth-led resistance. Over the past two years, waves of protest have surged through the country, driven by economic hardship, political disillusionment, and a fierce demand for justice. These movements—led largely by Gen Z—are reshaping the landscape of activism and challenging the boundaries of state power.
In conversation with the SOAS alumni community, Irungu Houghton will share insights from the frontlines of Kenya’s recent protest movements: the risks, the resilience, and the reimagining of human rights in the 21st century. With over three decades of experience in civic leadership, Irungu will explore how protest, policy, and people power intersect in Kenya, and what the world can learn from these movements.
Meet the speaker
Irũngũ Houghton is a leading voice in African human rights advocacy, known for his fearless commitment to justice and democratic accountability. As Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, he brings over three decades of experience in civic leadership, policy reform, and public engagement. Irũngũ is also a columnist, the author of Dialogue and Dissent: A Constitution in Search of a Country, and an award-winning strategist whose work bridges grassroots activism and global human rights discourse.
