ASF in Kenya
Location: Nairobi Opening: 2023 Contact: jindia@asf.be
General Context
Even if Kenya is consolidating its democratic institutions after a legacy of authoritarian rule, the country has had its share of politically instigated violence along ethnic lines. Following the post-election violence in 2007-2008, Kenya approved a new constitution in 2010 that enshrines perhaps one of the most exhaustive and forward-thinking Bills of Rights in the region and in the continent.
Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1963, Kenya has experienced periods of political turmoil, autocratic rule and progress towards stability. Kenya plays a leading role in regional diplomacy and economic integration, particularly within the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union.
Access to Justice and Rule of Law
In Kenya, access to justice remains a challenge for a significant portion of the population. The justice sector in Kenya has been the subject of major reform efforts in recent years, including measures to improve the independence of the judiciary, the revamping of Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission and measures to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the police and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Despite those reforms, the criminal justice system is still characterised by significant discretionary powers and challenges to the independence of the judiciary, which can lead to the criminalisation of poverty and the persecution of citizens. A majority of convicted prisoners are petty offenders, and trust in the courts remains low.
ASF’s Work in Kenya
With its diverse and dynamic population of approximately 53 million people, a rapidly evolving political landscape and strong economy, Kenya plays a pivotal role in the region. Kenya therefore serves as a critical hub for Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) in its pursuit of promoting access to justice and human rights in East Africa. The organizationis planning to focuses on the following areas in Kenya:
- Access to justice: ASF can provide legal aid to people who are unable to afford it, including victims of human rights abuses, marginalized groups, and people in detention.
- Human rights monitoring: ASF is planning to monitor the human rights situation in Kenya and promote access to remedies.
- Advocacy: ASF advocates for the protection of human rights in Kenya, including through direct advocacy with the government and awareness raising among the public.
Publications
News
October 16, 2023
Justice ExPEERience, the human rights network launched by ASF, celebrates its second anniversary
Two years ago, Avocats Sans Frontières launched Justice ExPEERience, a network for the promotion of human rights, as well as an online platform of the same name to support and energise this network. This anniversary is an opportunity for us to look back at the history and mandate of the Justice ExPEERience network and its platform. A report on its first two years of activity has just been published, covering developments since its creation, its key projects and also its development prospects.
September 27, 2023
ASF's East Africa regional hub
In recent years, ASF has progressively adopted a regional approach to its activities in East Africa. To lead the organisation development in the region and enable the implementation of strong and coherent regional strategies, a regional hub was created in Kampala in 2021.
July 19, 2023
Development of regional approaches: The regional hubs
In order to develop an action that best promotes its mandate and is consistent with the specific needs of the national contexts it is involved in, ASF relies on solid analyses of the issues in the countries where it operates. Being anchored in the realities of the countries is essential in order to develop contextualised expertise, to build strategic partnerships at the local level and to be able to put in place relevant and qualitative actions for the local populations.