In a significant gathering at the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 26, 2024, in Geneva, delegates from various nations convened to deliberate on pressing global human rights dilemmas. Amidst this backdrop, Kenya’s election to the council for the 2025–2027 tenure stirred the pot, faced with heavy criticisms from civil society groups due to alleged human rights transgressions. Photo by Janine Schmitz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — Kenya’s leap onto the United Nations Human Rights Council for the forthcoming term ignited quite the tumult. Civil society factions aren’t best pleased, accusing the government of notorious human rights infractions. Amid a UN General Assembly vote, Kenya snagged a seat alongside 17 other nations.
For Kenyan bigwigs, clinching this council seat is a chess move towards global acclaim in human rights governance. But, oh boy, did this election rock the boat back home! Local and international watchdogs are having none of it, accusing Ruto’s administration of heinous abuses, casting Kenya as utterly unsuited for the council.
A fiery cohort of civil groups, notably the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), are raising the roof against Kenya’s council gig. Their open letter to the UN and African Union details their gripes, pointing fingers at systemic human rights abuses—police overreach, extrajudicial mayhem, and mysterious disappearances, just to name a few.
“Kenyans face deeply entrenched abuses under Ruto’s rule,” the letter declaimed. “The police stand as the state’s enforcers of repression, notorious for quashing dissent with ferocity.”
The mob asserted that protests against the 2024 Finance Bill were violently squashed, with security forces unleashing mayhem, leaving 60 souls to perish. Citing the abduction of 65 folks and the murky detention of over 1,400 peaceable protesters—including students and striking workers—they presented ironclad evidence of the unyielding government abuses.
Protesters chant slogans amid a face-off with the police in Nairobi’s Kibera area, dated March 20, 2023. Hundreds rallied against election results, amplified living costs, and called for the president’s ousting. AP Photo/Ben Curtis.
Alongside human rights qualms, the coalition lambasted the government’s economic maneuverings, arguing these deepen disparities and hit the vulnerable hardest. Policies, like the controversial Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and a flawed university funding model, have been flagged for widening social gulfs.
Furthermore, the administration’s consistent failure to push the two-thirds gender rule, as mandated by Kenya’s constitution, is drawing ire. Ethnic and political biases in state appointments and development projects are further points of contention.
Though Kenya nabbed itself a spot on the UNHRC, watchdog groups demand unyielding international oversight of its rights practices. They warn that Kenya’s election dilutes the council’s purpose and sets a dicey precedent for holding perpetrators to account.
“Placing Kenya in the UN Human Rights Council tarnishes the body’s credibility,” the letter railed. “We beseech the UN and AU to hold Kenya accountable and ensure justice for victims of state-led violence.”
The advocacy groups implore the AU to reassess its backing of Kenya’s council election, championing regional frameworks like the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to probe wrongdoing and stave off future violations.
UN Elects a Fresh Crop of 18 to Human Rights Council
The UN General Assembly handpicked 18 fresh members for the 47-seat Human Rights Council, covering the 2025–2027 span. The new lineup includes countries like Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, et al., with Kenya getting its foot in the door.
Their three-year roles kick off on January 1, 2025, as they step into shoes left by countries like Argentina and India, whose back-to-back term runs preclude reelection.
This Geneva-headquartered council shoulders the global duty of promoting and safeguarding human rights, ensuring geographic equity through meticulously balanced membership.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
