Our Advocacy Program

Our Services

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is about amplifying the voices of people who use and inject drugs (PWIDs) to ensure they are seen, heard, and respected in both health and legal systems. It involves raising awareness about their rights, challenging stigma and discrimination, and influencing policies that often criminalize or exclude them from essential services.

It's about amplifying voices and creating systemic change. Our program focuses on policy reform, community empowerment, and evidence-based campaigns to promote health equity and social justice.

We prioritize systemic change, community voices, and evidence-based policies

Core Principles

Evidence-Based

Using data-driven approaches to policy change

Community-Led

Centering voices of affected communities

Rights-Based

Advocating for fundamental human rights

Intersectional

Addressing overlapping systems of oppression

Strategic

Targeting key decision-making opportunities

Collaborative

Building partnerships for greater impact

What We Have Done at The Omari Project

At The Omari Project, advocacy is a pillar of how we serve our communities across Kilifi County, including Malindi, Magarini, Kilifi North, and Mariakani. Here’s how we’ve brought advocacy to life on the ground

Legal Aid Clinics: We have provided free legal support to PWIDs across these sub-counties through mobile and center-based clinics. In collaboration with pro bono lawyers and trained paralegals, we’ve addressed cases of unlawful arrest, police harassment, and denial of services — while also raising awareness about legal rights.

Community Advisory Boards (CABs): In each of our service areas, we’ve established CABs at Drop-In Centers, involving peer representatives, local health staff, law enforcement, religious leaders, and community elders. These forums allow clients to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and hold service providers accountable.

Representation in Technical Working Groups (TWGs): We’ve ensured that our staff and PWID leaders in Malindi, Magarini, and Kilifi North actively participate in county-level TWGs, where we advocate for harm reduction-friendly policies, improved MAT access, and reduced stigma in health facilities

Awareness Campaigns & Community Sensitization: Through activities like Support Don’t Punish roadshows, community dialogues, radio engagements, and mural art in Mariakani and Malindi, we’ve sparked conversation, challenged discrimination, and promoted harm reduction as a lifesaving public health approach.

Training for Community Change Agents: We’ve trained peer educators and outreach workers from each sub-county in legal literacy, rights awareness, overdose response, and stigma reduction, empowering them to become local advocates in their communities

The Impact We’ve Made on the Community and PWIDs in Kilifi County

The advocacy efforts by The Omari Project have positively transformed both services and community attitudes in Kilifi County, including Malindi, Magarini, Kilifi North, and Mariakani:

Legal Empowerment: Many PWIDs who previously feared arrest or abuse now know their rights and are more confident in accessing services, defending themselves in legal settings, and reporting violations. Cases of unlawful detentions have reduced thanks to consistent legal aid and community policing dialogue.

Community Inclusion and Ownership: CAB meetings and peer engagement in TWGs have led to PWIDs being recognized as key stakeholders no longer invisible or excluded, but actively shaping harm reduction and health services in their localities

Behavior and Policy Shifts: In areas like Magarini and Mariakani, local leaders and health providers have become more open to harm reduction approaches. The narrative is shifting from punishment to support, compassion, and recovery.

Reduced Stigma and Discrimination: Through advocacy campaigns and education efforts, we’ve seen more welcoming attitudes from healthcare workers, local government, and the public, especially in hotspot zones like Malindi and Kilifi town.

Peer Leadership Growth: Many of our trained peer educators particularly in Kilifi North and Malindi are now respected leaders in their communities. They are facilitating dialogues, mobilizing others for care, and bridging the gap between vulnerable populations and essential services.