14th Periodic Report Of The Republic Of Kenya On The African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights And The 2nd Report On The Protocol To The African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights On The Rights Of Women In Africa (MAPUTO PROTOCOL)

14TH PERIODIC REPORT ON ACHPR AND 2ND REPORT ON MAPUTO  PROTOCOL

INTRODUCTION

1. The Government of Kenya (GOK) submits a single Report encompassing the 14^th Periodic Report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 1^st Report on the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). This submission underscores Kenya’s continued commitment to fulfilling its regional human rights obligations and advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms within its territory.
2. This Report outlines the legislative, policy, administrative, judicial, and institutional measures undertaken to give effect to the provisions of the African Charter and the Protocol since the submission of Kenya’s combined 12^th and 13^th Periodic Report. It also reflects Kenya’s implementation of the concluding observations and recommendations issued by the African Commission, incorporates relevant developments from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, and aligns with national priorities including Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Fourth Medium-Term Plan (2023–2027), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
3. The preparation of this Report was coordinated by the Office of the Attorney General and the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs (OAG&SDOJ). The Report is informed by contributions and validated data from various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), independent commissions and offices and civil society organizations.It also builds on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Reportsubmitted by Kenya in 2025, ensuring consistency and complementarity in the State’s human rights reporting at the regional and international levels.
4. The National Committee on International and Regional Human Rights Obligations, established on 29^th March 2019 as a standing inter-agency body on treaty reporting and implementation follow-up, provided strategic oversight for the coordination and compilation of this Report. The Committee comprises representatives from relevant MDAs, national human rights institutions, and the State Department for Economic Planning, thereby ensuring integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and effective use of data from Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
5. During the reporting period, several developments influenced Kenya’s human rights environment. These included the lingering socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conduct of the 2022 General Elections, youth-led civic mobilization and protests, ongoing economic recovery efforts, climate-related challenges such as droughts and floods, and evolving security dynamics within the Horn of Africa. The Government’s interventions in these areas have sought to safeguard constitutional rights, maintain stability, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations.
6. In view of these contextual developments, and recognizing that sustainable peace, security, and development depend on respect for human rights, the Government of Kenya strengthened the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs by elevating its institutional status and enhancing its financial, technical, and operational capacity. While the Department has long played a central role in promoting human rights through the development of laws and policies, its mandate was broadened to include wider coordination of human rights implementation.