“Use your voice and remain resilient” – Michelle Mwelesa’s Message from Helsinki

“Always use your voice and remain resilient.” With these words, Kenyan human rights defender and lawyer Michelle Mwelesa, who recently visited Finland, summed up her message while speaking at the World Village Festival in May. Mwelesa works as an advocacy officer at Civic Freedom Forum (CFF), a Kenyan human rights organisation supported by KIOS.

Mwelesa took part in KIOS discussion event, “Lessons in Defending Civic Freedoms,” as part of the World Village Festival programme. During the session, she shared insights into defending civic freedoms in increasingly restrictive environments and highlighted how each of us has a role to play in protecting civic space and fundamental freedoms. Mwelesa was interviewed at the festival by journalist Liselott Lindström. The discussion, which concluded the festival programme on Sunday evening, attracted an audience of around 40 people. A recording of the session is available on the World Village Festival’s YouTube channel here.

Michelle reflected on her festival experience as follows:

The World Village Festival provided an excellent platform for CFF to share insights on the current state of civic space in Kenya and across the East African region. Presenting the Kenyan human rights experience was both liberating and eye-opening. Engaging with an audience whose democratic context differs from ours was particularly empowering, as it allowed us to tell our story and bring greater awareness of our realities to the Finnish public.

Kenya’s shrinking civic space remains a pressing concern

Mwelesa’s visit focused strongly on the state of civic space in Kenya. During her stay, she had the opportunity to discuss the issue with representatives of Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as members of the Finnish Parliament’s Human Rights Network.

One of the most impactful moments of my trip was meeting representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament. This experience was a true light-bulb moment, as it exposed me to a different approach to public service and governance. Unlike the bureaucracy and bottlenecks often encountered in Kenya, the interactions here were efficient and open. This contrast was both inspiring and thought-provoking, offering a glimpse into what is possible.

In addition, Mwelesa met with Finnish civil society organisations. One of the highlights of her visit, in her own view, was a discussion event for NGOs jointly organised by KIOS and Fingo. The event gave Finnish civil society actors an opportunity to hear directly from Michelle about the operating environment in Kenya and the current state of civic space in the country. The discussion was highly successful and also left Michelle feeling hopeful:

I also had the opportunity to engage with Finnish NGOs working on democracy and human rights issues. The exchange of ideas and experiences was a highlight of my visit. Despite operating in different contexts and at varying scales, there was a strong sense of shared purpose that made these conversations feel familiar and deeply rewarding.

Lessons from Finland

Reflecting on her overall experience in Finland, Michelle concluded:

My trip to Helsinki was a rewarding experience filled with learning, unlearning, and meaningful human connection. From the moment I arrived, everything felt new—from the long flight to the extended daylight hours that stretched late into the evening. These small but striking differences set the stage for a truly memorable visit to Finland.

Michelle’s visit to Finland reinforced the importance of dialogue and knowledge-sharing on human rights issues. As civic space continues to come under pressure globally, and increasingly in Finland as well, it is clear that global solidarity will remain essential in the years ahead. With elections approaching in Kenya, it is also important to pay attention to developments in the country and listen to voices from the grassroots.

My biggest takeaway from this trip is the importance of strengthening the relationship between rights holders and duty bearers. Building trust and confidence in governance systems—and in the leaders we elect—is essential for creating sustainable and inclusive societies.

Michelle, Civic Freedom Forum and KIOS will continue their work to defend civic space and fundamental freedoms, building on the lessons, connections and renewed sense of solidarity that emerged from the visit.

Picture: Michelle Mwelesa at World Village Festival 2026 @Tanja Ryhänen