Kenya - Passion of the Present

Archive for the ‘Kenya’ Category

Ethiopia, Kenya: World Bank Approves Controversial Loan

July 13th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The World Bank undermined the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment with its approval on July 12, 2012, of a US$684 million loan. The loan is for a 1000-kilometer transmission line that would supply power to Kenya from Ethiopia’s controversial Gibe III dam.

(Washington, DC) – The World Bank undermined the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment with its approval on July 12, 2012, of a US$684 million loan, Human Rights Watch, Friends of Lake Turkana, Interna

Posted in Africa, Business, Environment, ESC Rights, Ethiopia, Gibe III dam, Kenya, Omo Valley, Press release, World Bank, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Kenya: Refugees Describe Abuse by Police

May 23rd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Kenyan police arbitrarily arrested, detained, and beat refugees following the discovery of explosives and an attack on a police vehicle in the Dadaab refugee camps in mid-May 2012. Senior officials visiting the camps on May 23 should ensure a full and speedy investigation leading to the identification and disciplinary measures against any officer responsible for abuse and the compensation of victims.

(Nairobi) – Kenyan police arbitrarily arrested, detained, and beat refugees following the discovery of explosives and an attack on a police vehicle in the Dadaab refugee camps in mid-May 2012.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Migrants, Press release, Refugees | Comments Closed

Kenya: Investigate Security Force Abuses Against Ethnic Somalis

May 4th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan security forces have committed widespread human rights abuses against ethnic Somalis with total impunity. Between November 2011 and March 2012, Kenyan police and soldiers arbitrarily arrested and mistreated Kenyan citizens and Somali refugees in North Eastern province in response to attacks by militants suspected of links to Somalia’s Islamist armed movement al-Shabaab.

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan security forces have committed widespread human rights abuses against ethnic Somalis with total impunity, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Refugees, Somalia | Comments Closed

Kenya: Local Judicial Mechanism Should Complement ICC Cases

April 27th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan government should reaffirm its commitment to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in cases stemming from the 2007-2008 post-election violence, while establishing a local judicial mechanism to investigate and prosecute other suspects.

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan government should reaffirm its commitment to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in cases stemming from the 2007-2008 post-election violence, while establishing a local judicial mechanism to investigate and prosecute other suspects, Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Africa, International Criminal Court, International Justice, Kenya, Press release | Comments Closed

Kenya: Somalia Unsafe for Refugees to Return

March 30th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Kenyan authorities should not return refugees to Somalia because of ongoing fighting and abuses against civilians in areas controlled by Kenyan forces and allied militias. Instead of claiming that “newly liberated areas” are safe for refugee return, Kenyan authorities should reopen the screening center at Liboi and resume registration of new refugees to ensure they receive assistance.

(Nairobi) – Kenyan authorities should not return refugees to Somalia because of ongoing fighting and abuses against civilians in areas controlled by Keny

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Somalia | Comments Closed

Kenya: ICC Judges OK Election Violence Trials

January 23rd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The decision on January 23, 2012 of an International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber to send cases to trial against four Kenyans opens the door to justice for victims of Kenya’s 2007-2008 election violence. Kenya’s authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the decision does not lead to violence, and to stop violence if it does break out, given that people thought to have been cooperating with the ICC investigations have been threatened.

(Brussels) – The decision on January 23, 2012 of an International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber to send cases to trial against four Kenyans opens the door to justice for victims of Kenya’s 2007-2008 election violence, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Africa, ICC, International Criminal Court, International Justice, Kenya, kenya post-election violence, Kenyatta, Press release, War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity | Comments Closed

Kenya: Security Forces Abusing Civilians Near Somalia Border

January 12th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan security forces are beating and arbitrarily detaining citizens and Somali refugees in Kenya’s North Eastern province, which borders on Somalia, despite repeated pledges to stop such abuses.

(Garissa) – The Kenyan security forces are beating and arbitrarily detaining citizens and Somali refugees in Kenya’s North Eastern province, which borders on Somalia, despite repeated pledges to stop such abuses, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Somalia | Comments Closed

Kenya: Investigate Bombing of Somali Village

December 21st, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The government of Kenya should investigate the death of as many as 11 civilians during a Kenyan air force raid on Hosingow village in Somalia on December 20, 2011. Both the Kenyan armed forces and the armed group al-Shabaab should take all feasible precautions to minimize civilian casualties during military operations.

(Nairobi) – The government of Kenya should investigate the death of as many as 11 civilians during a Kenyan air force raid on Hosingow village in Somalia on December 20, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Somalia | Comments Closed

Kenya: Prosecute Perpetrators of Post-Election Violence

December 9th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Four years after the 2007-2008 post-election violence, the Kenyan police and judicial system have failed to adequately investigate and prosecute crimes and to ensure justice for victims. While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken on a handful of cases, Kenya should establish a special judicial mechanism in its justice system to bring broader accountability. It should also provide compensation for victims, starting with the 21 or more victims of police shootings who have won civil suits against the Attorney General, but to whom the government has failed to pay court-ordered compensation.

(Nairobi) – Four years after the 2007-2008 post-election violence, the Kenyan police and judicial system have failed to adequately investigate and prosecute crimes and to ensure justice for victims, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release | Comments Closed

Kenya: Security Forces Arbitrarily Detaining People

November 28th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan police and military should stop using illegal mass-round-ups and beatings as a substitute for proper police investigative work. Attacks by suspected al-Shabaab sympathizers on the military and civilians inside Kenya do not justify violating the rights of civilians.

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan police and military should stop using illegal mass-round-ups and beatings as a substitute for proper police investigative work, Human Rights Watch said today. Attacks by suspected al-Shabaab sympathizers on the military and civilians inside Kenya do not justify violating the rights of civilians.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Somalia | Comments Closed

Slum residents address Africa’s human rights body to demand end to forced evictions

November 22nd, 2011 | Author: eherbert

By Francis Makanda Sakwa, Amnesty International Kenya ‘Gender Defender’ and resident of Mathare slum, Nairobi
I live in an informal settlement. I work, pay taxes, and use the money I earn to raise my children and support my family. Mine is a voice that isn’t often printed in my country’s newspapers, or heard by my Government. [...]

Posted in activist, amnesty international, Eviction, forced evictions, Gambia, Human Rights, Kenya, World Habitat Day | Comments Closed

Kenya: Respect Law in Somalia Military Operations

November 19th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan government should ensure that its forces in Somalia abide by the laws of war and avoid harm to civilians. The government should also promptly and impartially investigate recent incidents in which Kenyan forces may have violated international humanitarian or human rights law.

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan government should ensure that its forces in Somalia abide by the laws of war and avoid harm to civilians, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the Kenyan minister of state for defense.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release, Somalia | Comments Closed

Kenya: Hope for Cancer Patients

November 10th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kenyan Parliament’s vote to make cancer treatment free of charge will save lives and promote the right to health, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kenyan government should move quickly to turn the decision into reality, and donors should help fund the effort, Human Rights Watch said.

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan Parliament’s vote to make cancer treatment free of charge will save lives and promote the right to health, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kenyan government should move quickly to turn the decision into reality, and donors should help fund the effort, Human Rights Watch said.

Posted in Africa, Children's Rights, Health, Kenya, Press release | Comments Closed

Film Festival Debuts in Kenya

November 8th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Now in its 22nd year, the 2011 Human Rights Watch Film Festival makes its debut in Nairobi, Kenya with an extraordinary program of films set to inspire, inform, and spark debate. The films will demonstrate the power of traditional and new media to influence filmmaking and impact human rights

November 14-17, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
Alliance Française de Nairobi, Monrovia/Loita Street
Free entry

Films co-sponsored by: International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Media Focus on Africa, and Muslim Human Rights Forum

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release | Comments Closed

Kenya: Mt. Elgon Families Seeking Justice

November 4th, 2011 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Eight residents of Kenya’s Mt. Elgon region, whose family members were forcibly disappeared during an internal armed conflict nearly four years ago, were finally able to file complaints with the Kenyan police on November 3, 2011, with the assistance of Human Rights Watch and Western Kenya Human Rights, a nongovernmental organization.

(Bungoma, Kenya) – Eight residents of Kenya’s Mt.

Posted in Africa, Kenya, Press release | Comments Closed