Kenya

We have consistently worked in Kenya since 2015, with the primary focus having been supporting the national human rights institution (KNCHR) and the Department of Justice in their process to develop a National Action Plan on business and human rights.

What we do

Supporting the implementation of Kenya’s National Action Plan on business and human rights

We have played a key role in supporting our sister institution, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), as well as the Department of Justice in the development of Kenya’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on business and human rights, which was also the first of its kind in Africa and has since inspired other countries in the region to begin developing similar NAPs.

We are now working with multiple partners to support the implementation of the Kenyan NAP (2021-2025). This includes among other activities:

Working with KNCHR and the Department of Justice to disseminate the NAP and raise awareness on business and human rights amongst civil society, government and businesses
Working with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to building the capacity of their business members on responsible business practices and conducting human rights due diligence
Working with Advocates for International Development (A4ID) to develop an e-learning on human rights due diligence, aimed at in-house company lawyers and legal councils
Working with key public procurement authorities on integrating human rights considerations into public tenders

Cover of publication. Photo shows man carrying large net, another man in work clothing, wearing a helmet is sitting on truck — An example on what we do in Kenya.

Front page of Kenya national action plan on business and human rights case study — An example on what we do in Kenya.

Supporting enhanced monitoring of the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya

We have supported the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in monitoring the enabling environment for defending human rights in Kenya. This has included the following:

Working with KNCHR to collect data on the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya through the use of our Right to Defend Rights Tool
Supporting KNCHR’s outreach to human rights defender networks and state institutions to secure and validate the data
Facilitating the exchange of experience between KNCHR and other NHRIs collecting data on the situation of human rights defenders
Linking KNCHR with international processes on the collection of citizen-generated data

Supporting the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to monitor the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights with a focus on marginalised groups

The Institute has worked with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on using human rights data to improve sustainable development planning and implementation in Kenya with a focus on groups left behind for several years. Based on request, we are currently supporting KNCHR in monitoring the right to social protection, including basic healthcare, in 4 counties in Kenya and to conduct dialogues with authorities, civil society and rights-holders with the aim to improve rights realisation (through better access to improved health services) in the counties. The research will inform KNCHR’s continued work to advance the right to social protection and the highest attainable standard of health in Kenya in the years to come.

Partners

UN recommendations

The United Nations monitors the human rights situation in all countries and experts and member states give recommendations to individual governments. Read the UN recommendations to Kenya here.