End impunity, envoys tell State

By David Ohito and Vincent Bartoo

Human rights abuse is getting worse, European Union diplomats accredited to Kenya have claimed.

In terse statement issued after meeting with local human rights organisations, the diplomats demanded action that would stem impunity and abuse of basic rights.

"In the light of worsening human rights situation in Kenya, the envoys are concerned about continuing intimidation and rising numbers of threats to the activists," read the statement in part.

The Wednesday meeting brought together the heads of missions of the European Union member states, the European Commission and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and several civil society organisations.

The envoys also condemned the violation of basic rights of activists like freedom of association, assembly and speech. "The European Union will provide continuing support to help human rights defenders to play their vital role in the reform process in Kenya," they say.

Agenda Four

The Kenya Human Rights Commission Vice-Chairman Hassan Omar said the Government had shown indifference and inaction over reforms.

"We need credible investigation and we support the implementation of the Waki Report in full and Agenda Four reforms to restore stability of the country," said Mr Omar.

The International Centre for Policy and Conflict Executive Director Ndung’u Wainaina said: "Through cleaning governance we must weed out human rights abusers, corrupt and incompetent State functionaries."

Separately, Transparency International (TI) has launched a movement to monitor the country’s governance.

Through the ‘Citizens Demand Programme’, TI hopes to change the role of citizens from mere spectators of how public affairs are conducted to active participants.

The programme will educate wananchi on ways to check the governance of public officers and institutions. The project has been rolled out in Nairobi, Western and Rift Valley provinces.

Programme co-ordinator Moses Masinde said they would recruit NGOs to help in the programme.

"We have formed partnerships with the civil society groups at the grassroots to co-host and roll out this programme countrywide," he said.

Masinde was speaking in Eldoret yesterday during the launch of the programme in the North Rift.

"Most of the social problems faced by Kenyans today is because they are not aware that they have power to hold public officials and institutions accountable," he added.