By Courtesy/ KCA
The European Union (EU) Embassy in Kenya has commended the Kenyan media for its sustained coverage of human rights violations.
This includes cases of abductions and enforced disappearances.
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The EU Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Henriette Geiger urged the media to sustain focus on reporting the violations to ensure victims are not forgotten but accorded justice. She said those involved in violating human rights should be held to account.
“We recognize the critical role Kenyan media has played in its coverage of enforced disappearances,” she said.
“Keeping these stories in the public space is essential for justice.”
The diplomat added, “Consistently publishing the names is a powerful reminder that their disappearance is not forgotten.”
Geiger was speaking when she met human rights groups in Kenya, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), Amnesty International (AI), the Independent Medical Legal Unit (IMLU) and Human Rights Defenders (HRD).
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and media sector leaders, including from the Kenya Correspondent’s Association (KCA) also attended the meeting.
Also present were the Cyprus High Commissioner Savvas Vladimirou, France Political Counsellor Romain Boyer, Germany Deputy Head of mission Alexander Fierley and Iris Loonen of the Dutch Embassy as well as staff of the EU Delegation in Nairobi.
The EU Ambassador said the recent demise of the KNCHR chair, Roselyne Odede had robbed the body of a courageous and dedicated leader.
She called for a speedy appointment of a substantive chair within the allowable timelines to ensure the Commission’s work was not slowed down.
The diplomat added that a strong and stable leadership at the commission was important to sustaining its crucial mandate in protecting human rights.
She also expressed concern over the attacks on the judiciary, particularly those targeting the Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Geiger added that it was important to uphold judicial independence and the rule of law as fundamental elements of Kenya’s democracy.
The ambassador said the EU had committed 70 million Euros to support judicial reforms as part of its long-term investment in Kenya’s justice system.
She said the EU is monitoring the democratic space and introduction of any legislations that may hamper fundamental freedoms within the framework of the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic principles.
The meeting came amid growing fears of shrinking civic space, including reports of social media suppression and planned introduction of laws that may claw back on fundamental freedoms.
The rights groups expressed fears of further sustained assault on the civic space, including plans to muzzle social media with the help of key providers in the technological arena who recently met the government.
Amnesty International Executive Director Irungu Houghton said as human rights groups, they would “continue pursuing justice for victims of human rights abuses.
This includes the case of Baby Pendo, which is currently in court, and those on enforced disappearances.
The grassroots human rights defenders representative Rachel Mwikali said reports indicated a rise of informal groups purporting to exercise “official authority” at the community levels.
Mwikali said this was a recipe for breakdown of law and order.
The KNCHR CEO Bernard Mogesa sought support from the partners to speed up implementation of regulations on the Public Benefits Organization Act enacted in May 2024, which were yet to be fully operationalized.
Geiger said she has engaged with government including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and that of Interior on the state of human rights and need to expedite implementation of the regulations.
Germany Deputy Head of Mission Alexander Fierley said the embassy was ready to consider providing safety to journalists whose lives were under threat.
The assurance followed a report by CPJ’s Muthoki Mumo that Kenya was losing its status as a safe haven for journalists in the region.
“Kenya is increasingly becoming unsafe as many journalists seeking safety from their countries in the region are now opting for Kampala, Uganda”, said Mumo.
KNCHR reported 74 cases of enforced disappearances between June and November 2024.
Different rights groups have produced reports on the same and other human rights violations.
These incidents have raised questions over safety the of individuals particularly government critics and protestors.
The increasing cases of violations have led to increased international scrutiny and calls for accountability.
-This story has been published with permission from the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA).
