We need to try dialogue first

 One of the activists is arrested when the Langata road primary school pupils demonstrated over the alleged grabbing of a piece of land allegedly belonging to the school. January 20th,2015. Photo/Elvis Ogina (Nairobi)

He is a father of seven and a grandfather. By all standards, he has quite a handful to deal with, but Irungu Houghton still makes time to work for the community, and fight for equal rights.

You cannot be faulted for calling him an activist, but in the modern world of political correctness, he is the archetypal community mobiliser.

He does not mind being called an activist though, and says he probably became one even before he learnt the word considering that he was a student leader and for the 20 years, has served in different organisations that deal with human rights policies.

A down-to-earth person whose voice is heard more in seminars and workshops, Houghton was thrust in to the limelight a few weeks ago when he went to offer his support to the Lang’ata Road Primary School pupils whose playground had been fenced off. 

Released on bail

For that he got arrested, but less than 24 hours later, he was released on police bail on the orders of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Houghton, 49, who was being seen by many Kenyans along the streets of activism for the first time, spent time with this writer and offered his views on activism and whether Kenya is heading in the right direction in terms of respect of human rights and active citizenship.

“Kenya has turned a corner since the 1980s and we are living in an age where citizens can raise their voices against injustices,” he said at his home. “We have a freer society now and the 2010 Constitution introduced active citizenship so the people can be proactive and ask for what is rightfully theirs.”

In the past several years, there have been numerous protests which can be described as confrontational.

Though he has no problem with the confrontational kind of activism that Kenyans are used to seeing, he prefers to do it differently. “In a society that is so divided, I prefer activism that allows for dialogue,” he says. “The kind of activism whereby the sides iron out their differences by talking freely.

“I, however, do not have a problem with the kind of activism that sees people take to the streets with placards. It is still a form of of expression in this fight whose aim is respecting people and their rights.”

 Community worker

Houghton points out that it is not enough for activists to raise their voices against injustices just for the sake, but they should have facts about what they are fighting for. “That goes a long way in supporting their cause.”

He says that he does not see himself as an activist, but more of a community worker.

He gives the example of Lang’ata Road Primary School where he went ready with facts to support the school against the land grabbers. “Evidence and facts are important in activism,” he says.

He says the problem at the school had been highlighted and the head teacher had tried to reach out to the media and had also written letters to the county government but nothing was done.

“Lang’ata Road is one of the many public schools in Nairobi County that do not have title deeds,” he says.

Given the kind of activism he prefers and employs, he admits he has not had many violent brushes with law enforcement authorities, and thus has not been roughed up like other activists.

“I have not been roughed up as many times as, say Boniface Mwangi, but I am humbled by my contribution,” he says, adding that he respects and honours activists who have had to go through both emotional and physical harm to speak for the voiceless. “Kenya should, however, not be the kind of place where you risk physical injury or emotional injury just for speaking out.”

Having worked in various countries in different capacities, Houghton says he is proud of Kenya and believes the country is headed in the right direction.

Despite the vote of confidence, he says Kenya is in a transition and problems are expected.

“I have worked across Africa and I can tell you that Kenyan women are more empowered than most on the continent,” he says.

“With the different issues affecting the country, Kenyans need to push the government to act.”

Policy makers, he says, also need to be responsive when citizens speak up against an injustice. “It is easy for us to condemn leaders but we need to be open to new ideas of handling the issues that are affecting us.”

Houghton says community work and activism offer more satisfaction that an office position for which one can be paid millions of shillings.

“I love leaving lasting legacies wherever I work,” he says, with a smile which shows he sure gets satisfaction from his life’s work.

He says his life comprises three parts — professional, volunteer and personal — and he is passionate about community mobilisation as evidenced by Kilimani Project Foundation which he co-founded in 2012. “At that time I had not worked with small communities more so one that I was part of and that is how the idea was born.

“About 15 people from Kilimani came together and ever since, we have held numerous activities including the Kilimani Festival.

“The idea is to make Kilimani the community of choice to work and live in,” he says.

The foundation has also been instrumental in the renovation of Kilimani Primary School canteen apart from working with other stakeholders on a draft MasterPlan for Nairobi.

To write that the foundation members are hands-on might be an understatement.

They have been involved in the clean-up of schools (in Kilimani) and other public amenities. They have occasionally held medical camps for the residents.

As he speaks, one thing that is clear is that Houghton is the epitome of humility.

He works with the community, something that might be seen as an affront to the authority, but he is not shy to admit that the foundation partnered with non-state bodies, local businesses, local schools and even the County Government of Nairobi in all the undertakings.

Such moves of bringing everyone on board to have things done prove that Houghton is interested in giving dialogue a chance in every situation.

And that he wants a united country where people put their differences of any kind aside and work together towards causes that can only improve their standards of living.