Human rights in Kenya

{{Politics of Kenya}}{{Cleanup|date=April 2025|reason=The structure of the article is very all over the place}}{{Update article|date=April 2025}}

Human rights in Kenya internationally maintain a variety of mixed opinions; specifically, political freedoms are highlighted as being poor and homosexuality remains a crime. In the Freedom in the World index for 2017, Kenya held a rating of '4' for civil liberties and political freedoms, in which a scale of "1" (most free) to "7" (least free) is practised.{{cite web | url=https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FH_FIW_2017_Report_Final.pdf | title=Freedom in the World 2017 | publisher=Freedom House | date=31 January 2017 | access-date=1 February 2017}}

History

=Kenyatta (1964 – 1978)=

During the first post-independence presidency of Kenya, under President Jomo Kenyatta, state security forces harassed dissidents and were suspected of complicity in several murders of prominent personalities deemed as threats to his regime, including Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya and J.M. Kariuki.[http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/11022002/News/Insight8.html] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20050501044401/http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/11022002/News/Insight8.html|date=1 May 2005}} MP and Lawyer C.M.G. Argwings-Kodhek and former Kadu Leader and minister Ronald Ngala also died, in suspicious car accidents.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

=Moi (1978–2002)=

The Daniel arap Moi administration consistently received international criticism of its record on human rights.{{Cite web|date=June 2007|title=Country Profile: Kenya|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Kenya.pdf|access-date=November 5, 2020|publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}} Under Moi, security forces regularly subjected opposition leaders and pro-democracy activists to arbitrary arrest, detention without trial, abuse in custody, and deadly force.

International aid donors and governments such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Norway periodically broke off diplomatic relations and suspended aid allocations, pending human rights improvement.

=Kibaki (since 2002)=

Since 2002, under the Mwai Kibaki presidency, politically motivated human rights violations have diminished, but other serious human rights abuses persist, a great many at the hands of security forces, particularly the police. The police force is widely viewed as the most corrupt entity in the country, given to extorting bribes, complicity in criminal activity, and using excessive force against both criminal suspects and crowds. Most police who commit abuses still do so with impunity. Prison conditions remain life-threatening.

Apart from police and penal system abuses, infringements of rights in the course of legal proceedings are widespread, despite recent pressure on judicial personnel. Freedom of speech and of the press continue to be compromised through various forms of harassment of journalists and activists{{Clarify|date=February 2010}}. Violence and discrimination against women are rife. The abuse of children, including in forced labor and prostitution, is a serious problem. Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains widespread, despite 2001 legislation against it for girls under 16. The abuse of women and girls, including early marriage and wife inheritance, is a factor in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Kenya made some progress in 2003, when it set up a national human rights institution, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), with a mandate to ensure Kenya's compliance with international human rights standards. Also, parliament passed the Children's Act to ensure the protection of minors, as well as the Disability Act, outlawing discrimination against the disabled.

In November 2005 the Kenyan government banned rallies of opposition parties, rejecting calls for new elections. Vice President Moody Awori stated:

:The government considers these calls for nationwide rallies inappropriate and a threat to national security ...

:Accordingly, the government will not allow the planned rallies and wananchi (citizens) are cautioned not to attend the meetings.

On 3 June 2007, two days after President Mwai Kibaki stated that Mungiki members "should expect no mercy", about 300 Mungiki members were arrested and at least 20 killed. John Michuki, at the time Minister for Internal Security, publicly stated following the killings, "We will pulverize and finish them off. Even those arrested over the recent killings, I cannot tell you where they are today. What you will certainly hear is that so and so's burial is tomorrow".Untranslated original: Tutawanyorosha na tutawamaliza. Hata wenye wameshikwa kwa kuhusiana na mauaji ya hivi majuzi, siwezi nikakwambia wako wapi leo. Nyinyi tu mtakuwa mkisikia mazishi ya fulani ni ya kesho. See Cry of Blood reference. In the KNCHR's Cry of Blood – Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances published in September 2008,{{cite web |title='The Cry of Blood' – Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances |publisher=Kenya National Commission on Human Rights/Enforced Disappearances Information Exchange Center |date=2008-09-25 |url=http://www.ediec.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Kenia/KNCHR_REPORT_ON_POLICE.pdf |access-date=2010-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214044349/http://www.ediec.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Kenia/KNCHR_REPORT_ON_POLICE.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2010 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }} the KNCHR reported these in their key finding "e)", stating that the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings appeared to be official policy.

In The Cry of Blood report, the KNCHR's first key finding "a)" was that "the evidence gathered by the KNCHR establishes patterns of conduct by the Kenya Police that may constitute crimes against humanity.

On 5 March 2009, two of the human rights investigators involved in the investigations documented in the report, Oscar Kamau Kingara and John Paul Oulu, were assassinated.{{cite web |last=WikiLeaks |author-link=WikiLeaks |date=2009-06-02 |title=WikiLeaks wins Amnesty International 2009 Media Award |url=http://mirror.wikileaks.info/wiki/WikiLeaks_wins_Amnesty_International_2009_Media_Award/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228234159/http://mirror.wikileaks.info/wiki/WikiLeaks_wins_Amnesty_International_2009_Media_Award/ |archive-date=28 December 2010 |access-date=2010-12-29 |publisher=WikiLeaks |df=dmy-all}}{{cite news

|first = Tristan

|last = McConnell

|title = Rights activist Oscar Kamau Kingara shot dead in central Nairobi

|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5860870.ece

|work = The Times

|date = 2009-03-07

|access-date = 2009-04-02

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133304/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5860870.ece

|archive-date = 29 June 2011

|url-status = dead

|df = dmy-all

}} Their assassinations were attributed by non-governmental organisations to the security forces.{{cite web |title=Wikileaks writers killed in Kenya |publisher=Hawai`i Free Press/WikiLeaks |date=2009-03-09 |url=http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/main/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/502/Wikileaks-writers-killed-in-Kenya.aspx |access-date=2010-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225231105/http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/main/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/502/Wikileaks-writers-killed-in-Kenya.aspx |archive-date=25 December 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2009 and 2010, Samburu people suffered severe human rights violations.{{cite web|last=Palmer|first=Paula|title=Cultural Survival Releases Report on Human Rights Violations by Police in Samburu East and Isiolo Districts, Kenya|url=http://www.culturalsurvival.org/files/Samburu%20Report%20Final%205-5-2010.pdf|publisher=Cultural Survival|access-date=16 September 2013|author2=Chris Allan|date=20 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019060852/http://www.culturalsurvival.org/files/Samburu%20Report%20Final%205-5-2010.pdf|archive-date=19 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}

The following chart shows Kenya's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none; "

!Historic ratings

style="padding:0; border:none;"|

A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".{{cite web | url = https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/Country_and_Territory_Ratings_and_Statuses_FIW_1973-2024.xlsx | title = Country and Territory Ratings and Statuses, FIW 1973-2024 | access-date = 21 December 2024 | author = Freedom House | author-link = Freedom House | year = 2024 | format = XLS}}{{ref|a|1}}

style="padding:0; border:none;"|

{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"

style="background:#eee;"

! Year

! Political Rights

! Civil Liberties

! Status

! President{{ref|b|2}}

align=center

| align=left | 1972

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1973

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1974

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1975

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1976

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1977

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Jomo Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 1978

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1979

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1980

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1981

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1982{{ref|c|3}}

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1983

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1984

| style="background:#ff9;" |6

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1985

| style="background:#ff9;" |6

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1986

| style="background:#ff9;" |6

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1987

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1988

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1989

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1990

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1991

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1992

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |5

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1993

| style="background:#99f;" |5

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1994

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1995

| style="background:#99f;" |7

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1996

| style="background:#99f;" |7

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1997

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1998

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |5

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 1999

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |5

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 2000

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |5

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 2001

| style="background:#99f;" |6

| style="background:#99f;" |5

| style="background:#99f;" |Not Free

| style="background:#99f;" |Daniel arap Moi

align=center

| align=left | 2002

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2003

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2004

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2005

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2006

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2007

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2008

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2009

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2010

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2011

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |3

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2012

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Mwai Kibaki

align=center

| align=left | 2013

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2014

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2015

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2016

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2017

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2018

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2019

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2020

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2021

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |Uhuru Kenyatta

align=center

| align=left | 2022

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |William Ruto

align=center

| align=left | 2023

| style="background:#ff9;" |4

| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free

| style="background:#ff9;" |William Ruto

International treaties

Kenya's stances on international human rights treaties are as follows:

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"

!International treaties

style="background:#eee; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"

| Treaty

| Organization

| Introduced

| Signed

| Ratified

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-1&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Paris, 9 December 1948 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020233944/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-1&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=20 October 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |1948

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-2&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. New York, 7 March 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211223019/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-2&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=11 February 2011 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1966

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |2001

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917040858/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=17 September 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1966

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |1972

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901184638/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=1 September 2010 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1966

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |1972

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 5. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 24 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190324125027/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |1966

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-6&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 6. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York, 26 November 1968 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 16 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181116072232/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-6&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1968

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |1972

align=center

| style="background:#ff9; align=left" | International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-7&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 7. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. New York, 30 November 1973 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718122932/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-7&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=18 July 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#ff9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#ff9;" |1973

| style="background:#ff9;" |1974

| style="background:#ff9;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 18 December 1979 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823144158/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=23 August 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1979

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |1984

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-9&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 9. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108052518/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-9&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=8 November 2010 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1984

| style="background:#9f9;" |—

| style="background:#9f9;" |1997

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Convention on the Rights of the Child{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, 20 November 1989 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211151110/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=11 February 2014 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |1989

| style="background:#9f9;" |1990

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. New York, 15 December 1989 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020234014/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=20 October 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |1989

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-13&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. New York, 18 December 1990 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825222904/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-13&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=25 August 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |1990

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 6 October 1999 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 20 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110520040105/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |1999

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-b&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. New York, 25 May 2000 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 25 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425032942/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-b&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |2000

| style="background:#9f9;" |2002

align=center

| style="background:#ff9; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-c&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11c. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New York, 25 May 2000 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 13 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131213004558/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-c&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#ff9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#ff9;" |2000

| style="background:#ff9;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#9f9; align=left" | Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819033725/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=19 August 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#9f9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#9f9;" |2006

| style="background:#9f9;" |2007

| style="background:#9f9;" |2008

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15-a&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15a. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113202037/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15-a&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=13 January 2016 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |2006

| style="background:#99f;" |

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#ff9; align=left" | International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-16&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 16. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 17 July 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190717085558/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-16&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#ff9;" | United Nations

| style="background:#ff9;" |2006

| style="background:#ff9;" |2007

| style="background:#ff9;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights{{cite web | url = http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en | title = United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 10 December 2008 | access-date = 2012-08-29 | author = United Nations | author-link = United Nations | archive-date = 18 July 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120718111116/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en | url-status = dead }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |2008

| style="background:#99f;" |—

align=center

| style="background:#99f; align=left" | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-d&chapter=4&lang=en |title=United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11d. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure . New York, 19 December 2011. New York, 10 December 2008 |access-date=2012-08-29 |author=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825214748/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11-d&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=25 August 2012 |df=dmy-all |author-link=United Nations }}

| style="background:#99f;" | United Nations

| style="background:#99f;" |2011

| style="background:#99f;" |—

Press freedom

= Under British rule =

The seeds of the press, and media in general, were planted by English missionaries colonizing Kenya. The basic function of the publications, such as The Taveta Chronicle, Leader, and Uganda Mail{{cite journal|last1=Omolo Ochilo|first1=Polycarp|title=Press Freedom and the Role of Media in Kenya|journal=Africa Media Review|date=1993|volume=7|issue=3}} was to disseminate British news and create a sense of legitimacy for the English missionaries.{{cite book|last1=Mungeam|first1=G.H.|title=British Rule in Kenya, 1895-1912: The Establishment of Administration in the East Africa Protectorate|date=1966|publisher=Oxford: Clarendon P}} These practices continued with the introduction of the radio in 1928. However, press rights for native Kenyans were severely limited. Any opportunities for native Kenyans to access the press were used to make pleas for their freedom from colonial rule.

= After independence =

Individual press freedoms for the citizens of Kenya were still rather limited after they gained Independence. The new Kenyan government took control of most forms of the media in order to spread their vision of Kenyan ideals. However, at this time privately owned newspapers, such as the Standard{{cite web|title=The Standard|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/}} emerged, although these private entities were still subject to governmental control and censorship.

= 2010 Constitution =

The newest Constitution of the Kenyan government for the first time fully enumerated some individual rights to expression and information.{{cite web|title=Constitution of Kenya|url=https://www.kenyaembassy.com/pdfs/the%20constitution%20of%20kenya.pdf|access-date=17 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035458/http://www.kenyaembassy.com/pdfs/the%20constitution%20of%20kenya.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} However, there is a lack of unilateral freedom of expression for Kenyan citizens. Amongst the most notable omissions from the enumerated rights is the right to express propaganda for war or an incitement of violence. Moreover, the Kenyan government still retains some control over the spread of dissenting ideas during wartime.{{cite web|title=Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Act, 2013|url=http://www.researchictafrica.net/countries/kenya/The_Kenya_Information_and_Communications_(Amendment)_Bill_2013.pdf}}

In the realm of media specifically, the Constitution prohibits the government from interfering with the spread of truthful information or with any individual's right to access to that information. The government nonetheless sets standards for media content and regulates the enforcement of those rules.

= Present-day press rights =

The Kenyan government, however, did not intend to staunchly adhere to these new mandates of the constitution. As recently as 2013, Kenyan policymakers amended previous laws to limit certain media coverage of terrorist attacks and attempted to suppress the reporting of the deteriorating safety in Kenya. The amendment to the Kenya Information and Communication Act works to stifle efforts of publications that put forth critical perspectives of the Kenyan government.{{cite web|title=Kenya parliament passes draconian media laws|url=https://cpj.org/2013/12/kenya-parliament-passes-draconian-media-laws.php|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|date=5 December 2013 }} Although there have been some governmental efforts to enhance the press freedoms of Kenyan citizens, such as The Media Council Bill of 2013 which created a governmental body that would promote and protect the freedom of the media,{{cite web|title=Kenya Media Council Bill, 2013|url=http://www.kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/bills/2013/THEMEDIACOUNCILBILL.pdf}} the enforcement of the act did more harm than good in promoting press freedoms. According to an independent study conducted by Freedom House, Kenya's press rights are considered to be somewhat comprehensive.{{cite web|title=Kenya|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2015/kenya|website=Freedom House|date=22 April 2015|access-date=17 November 2016|archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030082957/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2015/kenya|url-status=dead}} The press is only considered "partly free" largely because of the governmental efforts to enact laws that grant more control over media and publications. Moreover, previous laws, such as the Preservation of Public Security Act, which give the government the right to declare any information to be a security threat and censor that information,{{cite web|title=Preservation of Public Safety|url=http://www.kenyalaw.org/lex//actviewbyid.xql?id=KE/LEG/EN/AR/P/CHAPTER%2057/sec_3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202034435/http://www.kenyalaw.org/lex/actviewbyid.xql?id=KE/LEG/EN/AR/P/CHAPTER%2057/sec_3|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2022|website=Kenya Law}} are still in effect and have yet to be repealed or amended.

Forced marriages

In Kenya, climate change and recurring droughts have exacerbated poverty and gender inequality, contributing to a rise in forced and child marriages, particularly in arid regions like Marsabit County. Since at least 2022, prolonged dry spells have led to the loss of livestock and food insecurity, prompting some families to marry off daughters in exchange for resources such as camels and goats. Girls as young as 15 have been married to older men, often without consent, as a survival strategy amid worsening environmental conditions. Local organizations, such as the Indigenous Resource Management Organization (IREMO), report that these practices are accompanied by increased vulnerability to sexual violence, as girls and women are forced to travel longer distances for water or grazing, often alone. {{Cite web |title=In Kenya, girls are sold into marriage to stave off starvation from drought |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/4/2/in-kenya-girls-are-sold-into-marriage-to-stave-off-starvation-from-drought |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Notes

:1.{{note|a}}Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.

:2.{{note|b}}As of 1 January.

:3.{{note|c}}The 1982 report covers the year 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three-year-long reports through interpolation.

References

External links

[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41609.htm 2004 Human Rights Report on Kenya] – US Department of State
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314135753/http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/39/ Freedom of expression in Kenya] – IFEX
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630023554/http://www.tikenya.org/default.asp Transparency International – Kenya]
[https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/kenya/report-2012 2012 Annual Report], by Amnesty International
[http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/kenya Freedom in the World 2011 Report], by Freedom House
[https://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-kenya World Report 2012], by Human Rights Watch

Kenya

Category:Law of Kenya

Category:Politics of Kenya

Human rights in Kenya

History

=Kenyatta (1964 – 1978)=

=Moi (1978–2002)=

=Kibaki (since 2002)=

International treaties

Press freedom

= Under British rule =

= After independence =

= 2010 Constitution =

= Present-day press rights =

Forced marriages

See also

Notes

References

External links