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PHYLLIS INDIATSI OMIDO

Born on 24 August 1978, in Kidinye Village, Vihiga County in Kenya. Phyllis studied Business Administration at The University of Nairobi.[1]

Phyllis Omido is a Kenyan environmental activist protecting the environmental and socio-economic rights of marginalized communities residing near extractive industries and toxic sites. Her fearless pursuit of justice has led to the closure of 17 toxic sites, catalyzed a movement of land and environmental defenders across East Africa and influenced the UN to pass a resolution on lead-acid battery recycling.

CAREER

Phyllis Omido is a Kenyan environmental activist who led the battle for the justice and health of the Owino Uhuru community that has suffered from lead poisoning ever since a battery smelting plant began operating in their village. Omido’s use of litigation, advocacy and media engagement has set vital legal precedents, affirming people’s right to a clean and healthy environment and the state’s responsibility to safeguard it.

In 2007, a smelting plant was opened in Owino Uhuru. Residents were told it was a sweet factory. However, it wasn't long until people started falling ill including Phyllis who was hired in 2009. Omido worked as a human resource and compliance officer at the plant. In 2009, Omido conducted an environmental impact report which revealed that the plant’s proximity to the local community posed a risk of lead poisoning.

In 2009, she founder the Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA), a grassroot environmental justice organization. CJGEA campaigns for communities affected by toxic industries and environmental injustices in Kenya.[2] In 2014, after years of advocacy by Omido and CJGEA, the Owino Uhuru plant ceased operations.[3] But the damage to people’s health and the local environment remained.

CONTRIBUTIONS

She organized a conference to train local media outlets on human rights and environmental issues to bolster accurate reporting on the Owino Uhuru community. This initiative led to a partnership with KTN, one of Kenya’s largest news channels, resulting in an exclusive documentary that included conducting 100 health tests among community members.

Omido took the case to court, suing state and non-state agencies on behalf of nearly all 3,000 community members. In 2017, the case informed the successful passage of a UN resolution on used lead-acid battery recycling in Africa. In 2020, Kenya’s High Court ordered the government and the smelter to pay KES 1.3 billion ($12 million) in compensation, though the ruling was later overturned on appeal.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa[4]

Featured in the book Standing Up for a Sustainable World (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020).[5]

References

  1. ^ "Phyllis Omido". Goldman Environmental Prize. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  2. ^ Human Rights Watch (2016-01-12), "Kenya: Events of 2015", Share this via Facebook, retrieved 2025-09-13
  3. ^ "Kenya's 'Erin Brockovich' defies harassment to bring anti-pollution case to courts". www.unep.org. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  4. ^ "Phyllis Omido". Goldman Environmental Prize. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  5. ^ "Standing up for a Sustainable World". www.e-elgar.com. Retrieved 2025-09-13.