In its Judgment, the High Court affirmed that KNCHR, as the National Human Rights Institution, has the constitutional and statutory mandate to design a framework for compensation and reparations for victims of human rights violations, pursuant to Article 59(1)(g) of the Constitution, which designates the KNCHR as the principal organ of the State responsible for ensuring compliance with obligations under international human rights treaties and conventions.

Today the 18th of December, the world marks International Minority Rights Day, established by the United Nations to promote and protect the rights, cultures, languages, religions and identities of national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. This day commemorates the 1992 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and is dedicated to raising awareness of both the challenges minorities face and their contributions to society.

Joint statement on protection of migrants along the Southern migration route

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission
The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights
The Mozambican Human Rights Commission
The Zambian Human Rights Commission

This statement is issued pursuant to the mandate of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) under Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya and the KNCHR Act, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in Kenya. It presents the Commission’s independent assessment of the state of human rights in Kenya for the period starting December 2024 to December 2025, highlighting key gains, persistent challenges, and priority actions required from State and non-State actors.

The Commission notes that the by-elections took place amid highly contested campaigns characterized by significant rivalry among different political actors. These elections were regarded as a critical moment for political leaders to demonstrate their influence, underscoring the importance of upholding democratic principles and respect for human rights in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election.

This year’s theme, “HUMAN RIGHTS: OUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS”, speaks very directly to our reality. Human rights are not distant concepts reserved for reports or courtrooms. They are the everyday guarantees that allow each one of us to learn safely, to work with dignity, to walk our streets without fear, to access care when we are unwell, to belong in our communities, and to express ourselves freely, both offline and online.

The KNCHR condemns in the strongest terms all forms of political violence, intimidation, destruction of property and excessive use of force by any party or agency. These actions severely undermine the democratic process, public trust and social cohesion. The Commission calls on the relevant Agencies to immediately and transparently investigate the cases and hold the responsible to account as provided by the law.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) issues this firm reminder: that failing to treat persons living with disability with dignity is not only a violation of the constitution but also a violation of human rights of persons with disability as provided by the recently adopted Persons with Disability Act 4 of 2025.