Kenya has been dealt a blow after The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) called for the rejection of an application by Kenya to join the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In a press briefing on Wednesday, October 9, the KHRC detailed several reasons why the lobby groups believe the UN body should not consider Kenya's formal bid.
The bodies mainly cited human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, abductions, and enforced disappearances by police as some of the reasons which rendered Kenya unqualified to join the prestigious council.
“The Kenyan police have a long history of violently suppressing independent institutions and dissenting voices. Our policing system, rooted in the colonial and post-independence regimes, was designed to serve the narrow interests of the ruling elite at the expense of the people and their rights. Today, the police remain the state's primary agents of repression,” KHRC stated.
“Instead of being a leader in human rights, Kenya risks becoming a member state that further erodes the very principles the UNHRC was established to protect."
Kenya has also been accused of defying court orders and setting up weaponised regulatory frameworks- something which the Human Rights group says has been occurring systematically.
Other lobby groups that are keen on blocking Kenya's bid include the Center For Memory and Development, Democracy Without Borders Kenya, Grace Agenda, Kariobangi Paralegal Trust, Mazingira Institute, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), National Coalition For Human Rights Defenders and Usalama Reforms Forum.
Further, KHRC was adamant that backing the country to become a member of UNHRC would be going against the body's core mandate of its commitments to human rights. KHRC also admitted concern of a possible conflict of interest in backing Kenya since it would paint a bad picture to other nations.
Kenya has been eyeing a seat at the UN Human Rights Council, particularly because some member countries including Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Gambia and Somalia will see their terms come to an end in December 2024.
Other African countries in the Human Rights Council include Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Morocco, Somalia, South Africa and Sudan.
Council's Membership of the Human Rights Council is based on equitable geographical distribution, with African States getting 13 seats - the same number as Asia-Pacific States. Latin American and Caribbean States get 8 seats, while Western Europe and other States: have 7 seats in the council.
Members of the council serve for three years but are ineligible for immediate re-election after serving for two terms.
