Wanjira Wanjiru is a human rights activist and community mobiliser, best known for her grassroots advocacy in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
Wanjira became popular at the height of the Gen Z-led protests in 2024, where she openly came out to protest police brutality and the Finance Bill 2024, where she was seen to be publicly telling off an officer who attempted to arrest her.
She is a co-founder of the Mathare Social Justice Centre, an organisation that documents human rights violations, promotes community-based justice, and empowers youth to demand accountability from the state. Through her work, Wanjira has emerged as one of the leading voices for social justice, legal empowerment, and civic engagement among Kenya’s younger generation of activists.
Her work primarily focuses on advancing participatory justice in marginalised urban communities, particularly within Mathare, which is one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements.
Wanjira has played a key role in legal interventions addressing issues such as forced evictions, land disputes, and police brutality.
In 2025, Wanjira has been at the forefront of several nationwide campaigns, including efforts to decriminalise poverty-related offences, push for slum electrification, and advocate for youth rights in urban areas.