President Stubb’s Meeting with Civil Society Organisations Also Included Human Rights Organisations Supported by KIOS: Focus on Human Rights and the State of Civil Society in Kenya

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb met with Kenyan civil society actors in Nairobi as part of his official state visit. Representatives of human rights organisations supported by KIOS, Executive Directors Wangechi Grace Kahuria (Independent Medico Legal Unit, IMLU) and Nerima Wako-Ojiwa (Siasa Place) were among the invited civil society actors. According to comments from the representatives of the organisations, the meeting was exceptionally direct and significant in content. The central topics were human rights, youth participation in decision-making, and the state of civil society in Kenya.

Representatives of the civil society organisations described the atmosphere of the discussion as open, respectful, interactive and genuinely attentive. President Stubb was particularly praised for his desire to understand national context, grassroots realities and listen to difficult issues, such as disappearances, torture, and violence related to recent protests.

“President Alexander Stubb asked thoughtful and refreshing questions, demonstrating both an understanding of the complex challenges civil society face, and a genuine curiosity to better understand our context.” tells Nerima from Siasa Place.

 

President Stubb discussing with the Kenya civil society organisations, KIOS grantee representatives Wangechi and Nerima pictured on the right. Photo: IMLU

 

Wangechi from IMLU highlighted the contradiction between the government’s official communication and the organisations’ experiences – for example, on the same day, the Kenyan president publicly claimed that all missing persons had been found, which, according to the civil society organisations, did not reflect the reality.

“President Stubb seemed genuinely astonished when he heard that the missing persons from the protests have still not been found,” says Wangechi. “He appeared to recognise the seriousness of the situation and asked: ‘How many people did you say are still missing?’”

The president emphasised the importance of young people as revitalisers of democracy and stressed the need to build trust between citizens and institutions. He also expressed interest in how the regulation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies could support democratic participation and protect rights in the digital environment.

“Notably, the president recognised that young people primarily want to be heard and included meaningfully in decision-making processes. He stressed the importance of building good will and trust between institutions and citizens,” explained Nerima from Siasa Place. “There was also a notable interest in understanding how institutions and frameworks are engaging with emerging technologies, particularly around the governance of artificial intelligence, which was encouraging.”

 

In a roundtable discussion, President Stubb listens to the views of representatives from non-governmental organizations on Kenyan society and development. Photo: Matti Porre / Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

 

The meeting was also seen as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Finland and Kenya’s civil society, particularly in the promotion of human rights. Given Finland’s recommendations to Kenya during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations in Geneva on the 1st of May 2025, the meeting was not only strategic but timely.

The meeting was regarded as historic and hopeful in many ways – especially at a time when Kenya’s civil society operates in an even more constrained environment and faces ongoing limitations on its activities. The president’s attentive and respectful attitude provided space for open dialogue and highlighted Finland’s role as a long-term, human rights-based partner.

During a reception hosted in honour of President Stubb at the Finland Ambassador’s residence, he warmed the guests with his ease and friendly nature. He left a huge mark on Kenyans with his remarks “although Finland is ranked as the world’s most happy country, Kenyans have the best smiles” reported Wangechi to KIOS about the meeting.

 

KIOS has supported IMLU in 2005-2010 and from 2018 onwards with the development cooperation funds of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Siasa Place from 2024 with the support from the EU Delegation in Kenya as part of the Haki Ni Yetu-project.