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Human rights in Kenya

Read the most up-to-date and comprehensive insights regarding human rights in Kenya. You’ll find detailed information covering its background, key issues, ongoing research, urgent actions, and latest news.

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Nawal Benaissa, 36 yeards-old, is a mother of 4 who joined Hirak early on and became one of its main female leading voices. She took part to several protests with her husband and children and has been very active on social media. Her Facebook profile gained more than 80 000 followers, before authorities asked her to shut down during one of her detention in custody. She was arrested and held in custody for few hours four times between June and September 2017. This last time she was sued and on mid-February 2018, she was sentenced to 10 months suspended sentence and a fine of 500 hundred dirhams for inciting to commit an offence (by speech, cries or threats made in the places where public meetings, either through posters exposed to the public or by any means fulfilling the condition, advertising, including electronically, on paper and by audio-visual channel, if the provocation has not been followed by effect. Article 299 of the penal code). Her lawyer has appealed the sentence, the Court of Appeal has yet to rule. Benaissa responded to the court’s decision on her Facebook page by expressing her continued support for the Rif protests. “I am proud to take part in the protests in the region and I denounce the imprisonment of Hirak activists. I demand their immediate release,” she wrote. Few weeks ago, she moved from the northern city of Al Hoceima to another Moroccan city in order to flee harassment from authorities.

Press Release

Amnesty International launches world’s biggest human rights campaign

November 28, 2018 | activism

The Kenyan authorities are forcibly evicting the Sengwer Indigenous people from Embobut forest, in the Western Highlands of Kenya, to make way for a conservation project. The Sengwer say they have lived in Embobut forest for centuries. They are defending their human rights, and their demands are clear: the government must recognize their land rights and work with them to protect the forest.

Sheet of paper Report

Kenya: Sengwer evictions from Embobut Forest flawed and illegal

May 14, 2018 | Kenya

Taken at his home in Kisumu, Kenya. Tomorrow, 19-year old David is sitting a crucial exam after finally completing his primary education. He needs his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in order to continue to secondary education. However, thanks to Kenya’s heavy handed police, his right arm is broken – which will make the completing exam even more difficult as it’s his writing arm. David’s arm was shattered when armed police stormed his neighbourhood and attacked him with batons when major protests erupted during Kenya’s contentious presidential election re-run on 26 October. He lives in Ubungo, one of the poorest communities in Kisumu, west Kenya – a stronghold of opposition politician Raila Odinga and a flashpoint for violence during the election period.

Press Release

Violence, killings and intimidation amid election chaos in Kenya

October 30, 2017 | Elections

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