• World Report 2012: Kenya
    Human rights developments in Kenya were dominated by the implementation of a new constitution and related judicial and police reforms, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases against six Kenyans whom the ICC prosecutor accused of crimes against humanity. The alleged crimes were committed during Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007 and 2008. Kenyan politicians resisted the ICC process, claiming the judicial and police reforms underway gave sufficient cause to return the cases to Kenya. But there was little progress on the ground in terms of accountability for post-election violence or human rights violations by security forces.
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Kenya

  • Kenya: ICC Judges OK Election Violence Trials
    Jan 23, 2012

    The decision on January 23, 2012 of an International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber to send cases to trial against four Kenyans opens the door to justice for victims of Kenya’s 2007-2008 election violence. Kenya’s authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the decision does not lead to violence, and to stop violence if it does break out, given that people thought to have been cooperating with the ICC investigations have been threatened.

  • Kenya: Security Forces Abusing Civilians Near Somalia Border
    Jan 12, 2012
    The Kenyan security forces are beating and arbitrarily detaining citizens and Somali refugees in Kenya’s North Eastern province, which borders on Somalia, despite repeated pledges to stop such abuses.
  • Kenya: Investigate Bombing of Somali Village
    Dec 21, 2011
    The government of Kenya should investigate the death of as many as 11 civilians during a Kenyan air force raid on Hosingow village in Somalia on December 20, 2011. Both the Kenyan armed forces and the armed group al-Shabaab should take all feasible precautions to minimize civilian casualties during military operations.
  • Kenya: Prosecute Perpetrators of Post-Election Violence
    Dec 9, 2011
    Four years after the 2007-2008 post-election violence, the Kenyan police and judicial system have failed to adequately investigate and prosecute crimes and to ensure justice for victims. While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken on a handful of cases, Kenya should establish a special judicial mechanism in its justice system to bring broader accountability. It should also provide compensation for victims, starting with the 21 or more victims of police shootings who have won civil suits against the Attorney General, but to whom the government has failed to pay court-ordered compensation.
  • Kenya: Security Forces Arbitrarily Detaining People
    Nov 28, 2011
    The Kenyan police and military should stop using illegal mass-round-ups and beatings as a substitute for proper police investigative work. Attacks by suspected al-Shabaab sympathizers on the military and civilians inside Kenya do not justify violating the rights of civilians.
  • Kenya: Respect Law in Somalia Military Operations
    Nov 18, 2011
    The Kenyan government should ensure that its forces in Somalia abide by the laws of war and avoid harm to civilians. The government should also promptly and impartially investigate recent incidents in which Kenyan forces may have violated international humanitarian or human rights law.
  • Kenya: Human Rights Concerns of Operation “Linda Nchi”
    Nov 18, 2011
    Human Rights Watch writes to the Kenyan Minister of State for Defence, Yusuf Haji, to raise concerns regarding possible violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by elements of the Kenyan armed forces during Operation “Linda Nchi.”
  • Take mercury out of children’s hands
    Nov 17, 2011
    Governments from around the world met in Nairobi, Kenya recently to negotiate an international treaty on mercury, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Mercury, the silvery liquid metal, known to many from old thermometers, is one of the most toxic substances on earth.
  • Kenya: Hope for Cancer Patients
    Nov 10, 2011
    The Kenyan Parliament’s vote to make cancer treatment free of charge will save lives and promote the right to health, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kenyan government should move quickly to turn the decision into reality, and donors should help fund the effort, Human Rights Watch said.
  • Film Festival Debuts in Kenya
    Nov 8, 2011
    Now in its 22nd year, the 2011 Human Rights Watch Film Festival makes its debut in Nairobi, Kenya with an extraordinary program of films set to inspire, inform, and spark debate. The films will demonstrate the power of traditional and new media to influence filmmaking and impact human rights
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