Hussein Khalid

Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of HAKI, amplified his voice during the June 2024 Gen Z protests. His activism led to his arrest in October while honouring youths who lost their lives during the protests.

On 29th November 2024, Khalid was named Human Rights Defender of the Year at the HRD Awards. He was honoured alongside Boniface Mwangi and Haniffa Adan for their roles in the protests that resulted in the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.

 Khalid has been at the forefront fighting for the rights of community members at the grassroots level especially around coastal Kenya and generally around the East African region.

The activist has worked with and served as a member of numerous civil rights groups and institutions, including Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Government Taskforce on Grievances of Coast People, the Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).

In addition,  Khalid is a columnist for the start newspaper, and his articles largely focus on human rights and how to address cases of terrorism without infringing on human rights.

He has also been a champion against the abduction cases in Mombasa, where he has collided with police as he represents families whose kin have mysteriously disappeared or have been arrested and cannot be traced.