A human rights activist has linked the massive poverty levels in the country and the huge gap between the rich and the poor to injustices perpetrated by successive governments and the rich in society against the perceived low class people. This was observed by a renowned Kenyan human rights activist and fellowship programme holder at The University of New York, Ruth Mumbi when she presented a public lecture to students and staff at Egerton University Nakuru Town Campus on Friday. In the lecture titled: ‘The role of Human Rights Activism and Gender Parity Awareness in Developing Nations’, the activist noted that poverty among many marginalised people in developing countries is linked to injustices against them. She in particular singled out women, children, the disabled and the youth whom she said are the majority in developing societies gripped in poverty due to injustices against them. She observed that many young women are denied education and forced into early marriage for their parents and other relatives to gain materially while children born out of wedlock are subjected to prejudice and grow into young adults gripped in poverty. “Many people in our society are ravaged by poverty not because they were born to live that way but because of many injustices subjected against them by powerful people in society. Our women, children and youth are examples,’’ said the activist. She noted that many poor people in the country like squatters do not have information and awareness about their rights and also lack resources to fight for their rights. Mumbi added that corruption in the judiciary and other government sectors has deeply contributed to impunity among powerful people while poverty levels increases among the marginalized who do not have capacity to fight for their rights.

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