Nairobi, Sept. 3 -- Somewhere in Geneva, at the capital of one of the most peaceful countries in the world, Kenyan lawyer Chris Mburu spends most of his waking hours worrying about human rights.

As a Senior Human Rights Advisor at the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, he is always scanning for conflicts across the globe. At his fingertips is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document laid down in 1948, but which lies effete under the boots of high-handed actors.

Before he got himself into the space where he defends others, Chris was a hapless village boy mostly concerned about his next meal.

Deep in Mitahato Village in Githunguri constituency of Kiambu County, he was always exposed: a house wi...