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Kenya responds to UN on abductions after media highlight
Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
The Kenyan government through Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, has responded to questions regarding deteriorating state of human rights in the country.
This comes a day after the Daily Nation drew the government’s attention to demand for answers by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts.
While the UN addressed the Kenyan government on August 5, 2025, the Kenyan government issued a statement on October 27, 2025, explaining how the issues raised by the rapporteur were being handled.
“The matters raised in your communication are currently under active investigation and adjudication by independent constitutional bodies as provided for under Kenya’s legal framework. To preserve the independence of these institutions and avoid prejudicing ongoing judicial and quasi-judicial processes, the government is constrained from providing detailed commentary on specific cases,” the Kenyan government said.
The government stated that as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it remains a stable democratic country that upholds freedoms of speech, press, fair trial, and peaceful assembly, including demonstration and picketing.
According to the government, the areas that had been addressed were being handled by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa), Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Judiciary, and other institutions.
On the forceful deportation of human rights defender Martin Mavenjina, a Ugandan national, the Kenyan government said that it took the action on the grounds of national security as stated in Section 43 (2)(a) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.
Also, the government stated that the matter of deportation is still under appeal before the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, Case No. 89/2025.
“All actions were taken in accordance with due process. The individuals were promptly produced before courts within 24 hours as required by Article 49(1)(f)(g)(h) of the Constitution.”
On allegations that the Kenyan government carried out a crackdown on media outlets reporting live events across the country during the June 25, 2025 Gen Z demonstrations anniversary, the government claimed that the freedom of expression is exercised and that the Communications Authority directive on the said date was suspended by the High Court.
On the use of force against citizens during protests, the government defended the action stating that it is governed by National Police Service Standing Orders (Sixth Schedule) and the National Police Service Use of Force Policy (2020), which mandate non-violent means first and proportionality.
Additionally, the government stated that Ipoa is investigating the deaths, which were reported on June 25, 2025.
The Rapporteur had also raised concern over an incident that took place at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) on July 6, 2025, where armed individuals were reported for disrupting a press conference hosted by the KHRC and civil society partners.
The government said the matter was reported at the Central Police Station and an investigation into the incident is underway.
It added that 16 deaths were reported during the Gen Z demonstrations anniversary, which were being probed by Ipoa.
