The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR or “the Commission”) is a constitutional commission established under Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and operationalized under the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2011. The Commission’s primary mandate is to promote and protect human rights across private and public spheres in the Republic of Kenya. The Commission is the designated state organ that ensures state compliance with obligations flowing from human rights treaties that Kenya has ratified.
Growing Old in Kenya: Making It a Positive Experience (The Second State of Human Rights Report)
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights’ Second State of Human Rights Report examines the human rights implications of the aging process in Kenya. The report reveals that inequality and discrimination pervade the lives of older persons, who face severe neglect, healthcare discrimination, and violence, such as witchcraft killings.
Key findings indicate that Kenyans are not adequately preparing financially or mentally for old age, and the government lacks a comprehensive policy on ageing and formal social protection, exacerbating poverty among the elderly.
To address these challenges, the report recommends integrating old-age preparation into education and government policies across health, housing, and social security sectors. It urges the government to finalize the National Policy on Ageing, implement universal pension schemes, provide cash transfers for elderly caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans, and launch public awareness campaigns to eliminate negative stereotypes and encourage savings. Download Report.
The Fourth State of Human Rights Report: Post Promulgation 2010-2014 - The Elusive Mirage?
The KNCHR's Fourth State of Human Rights Report assesses Kenya's human rights landscape from 2011 to 2014, following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution. It evaluates civil and political rights, economic social and cultural rights, and group rights.
While commending the passage of progressive legislation and judicial reforms that improved access to justice, the report highlights significant gaps between constitutional promises and lived realities. Persistent challenges include extrajudicial killings, corruption, shrinking civic space, threats to human rights defenders, terrorism, poor prison conditions, inadequate healthcare, food insecurity, and ongoing discrimination against women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities.
The report concludes that lack of political will has hindered implementation and provides comprehensive recommendations across all rights categories to bridge the gap between aspiration and realization. Download Report.
The Third State of Human Rights Report: A Human Rights Assessment of Kenya Vision 2030
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights’ Third State of Human Rights Report assesses the government's implementation of Kenya Vision 2030's first Medium-Term Plan (2008-2012) from a human rights perspective. It evaluates progress across Economic, Social, and Political pillars, including rights to food, education, health, water, housing, and justice.
While commending strong policies and increased budgets that improved service delivery, the report highlights critical shortcomings. Vulnerable and marginalized groups' basic rights remain unmet due to a lack of deliberate targeting. Accountability, data collection, and public communication are also weak.
The report concludes that Kenya's 2010 Constitution provides a robust framework to enforce these rights, but equitable realization requires enhanced public participation and targeted interventions. Download Report.
The State of Human Rights in Kenya: Assessing the Progress Made and Areas of Concern December 2024-December 2025:
The Commission has prepared a state of human rights report covering the period December 2024 to December 2025, which assesses the progress made and areas of concern on selected human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Bill of Rights under Chapter Four of the Constitution. The report contains recommendations and measures that need to be taken by various duty bearers and stakeholders in order to enhance the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of rights and fundamental freedoms and move Kenya towards a human rights-compliant state. Download Report
The State of Human Rights in Kenya: Assessing the Progress Made and Areas of Concern: July 2023-November 2024
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR or “the Commission”) is a constitutional commission established under Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and operationalized under the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2011. The Commission’s primary mandate is to promote and protect human rights across private and public spheres in the Republic of Kenya. The Commission is the designated state organ that ensures state compliance with obligations flowing from human rights treaties that Kenya has ratified. Furthermore, the Commission is the designated national monitoring agency under Article 33 (2) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and bears additional oversight functions over the implementation of the Prevention of Torture Act, 2017. It is on this basis, therefore, that the Commission has prepared a state of human rights report covering the period from July 2023 to November 2024, which assesses the progress made and areas of concern on selected human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Bill of Rights under Chapter Four of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The report contains recommendations and measures that need to be taken by various state organs in order to enhance the fulfillment, protection, and promotion of rights and fundamental freedoms and move Kenya towards a human rights-compliant state. Download Report
STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN KENYA (NOV 2022 - NOV 2023)
This Address comes at an opportune moment as Global States gear up towards commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10th December 2023; the foundational rights document that engraves universally recongised fundamental rights. Nationally, we continue the countdown since the promulgation of the present Constitution, which this year hit its “teens”. Furthermore, it is now more than a year since the third general election under the 2010 Constitution and a decade since the onset of devolution following the first general elections in March 2013. Furthermore, it is not lost on us that as a Republic, we are now of a mature older age, as in under a months’ time on 12th December, we celebrate the diamond jubilee as an independent Republic - Jamhuri day. Full report