Planet Unplugged - Land and Environment Defenders

Speaker 

Phyllis Omido has become known globally for her work in Kenya as a land and environment defender. Based in the village of Owino Uhuru near Mombasa in she began a campaign to stop the pollution from a nearby smelting plant that was polluting the water, soil and air in the village. People were becoming ill and dying. She founded the Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA) and was arrested and along with other members of the group. After being exonerated and after a number of years campaigning the smelting plant was eventually closed down. 

In 2021 CJGEA won an Environmental Class Action Suit that awarded compensation to the Owino Uhuru community. However, the award was overturned by the Court of Appeal and is now awaiting a further appeal by CJGEA that will be heard  by Kenya’s Supreme Court. 
Phyllis will talk about her own work in Kenya and also about the challenges faced by other human and environmental rights defenders in other parts of the world.

Awards and Accolades

• 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize (USA)
• 2018 Mombasa County Environment Champion
• 2018 Italian Bar Association Woman of courage and Honorary member of the Bar (Rome Italy)
• 2020 BBC 100 Most Influential Women Globally
• 2020 Ethecon Blue Planet Award(Germany)
• 2021 Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People
• 2023 Right Livelihood Award (Sweden)

Key timings

5pm – People arrive at STEM 3.1
5.15pm – Guests to be seated
6/6.15pm – Drinks reception in STEM foyer
7pm – Finish

How to register