Item 6: UPR Outcome on Kenya

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Madame President

CSW welcomes Kenya’s cooperation with the UPR process and acceptance of recommendations relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

Throughout the reporting period violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief have continued, primarily in the form of terrorist attacks by members and sympathisers of the Somali terrorist group al Shabaab.

Kenya has failed to adequately address this during the reporting period. Thus, we welcome the country’s acceptance of recommendations to enhance efforts to combat terrorism and extremism by strengthening counter-terrorism measures in conformity with the law and international standards. Particularly welcome is the acceptance of recommendations to protect religion or belief communities from terrorist groups, with a view to tackling the root causes of religious radicalisation.

CSW encourages Kenya to step up efforts to combat terrorism and ensure that its citizens, particularly non-Muslims in areas near the Somali border, including in Lamu and Garissa Counties, are able to practice their religion or belief without fear. We further call on Kenya to ensure the humanitarian needs of communities displaced or affected by al Shabaab violence are met.

Evidence that Kenyan police and authorities have been complicit in human rights violations in their efforts to combat terrorism has exacerbated the situation.

The 2019 DusitD2 attack illustrates that continued targeting of individuals based on ethnicity, links to Somalia or country of origin is not only discriminatory, but also undermines the ability of the security services to apprehend perpetrators. Moreover, the failure to ensure that human rights of civilians and even suspects are respected in the fight against terrorism risks alienating local communities and mitigating against cooperation with intelligence gathering efforts, while increasing the terrorists’ ranks.

We urge Kenya to investigate bribery and other forms of corruption, and reiterate recommendations made to Kenya to investigate extrajudicial killings by police officers, including in the context of counter-terrorism measures, ensuring perpetrators of such violations are brought to justice.

Finally, we urge UN Member States to monitor and assist with the implementation of recommendations made during Kenya’s review.

Thank you