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Statement given yesterday by the UK's Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Kenya's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you.

We thank the Kenyan delegation and congratulate Kenya on its election to the Human Rights Council.

We welcome important reforms made since Kenya’s last review, including the commuting of all death sentences imposed before November 2022.

We commend the launch of the Strategic Framework for Police Reforms and the establishment of specialised courts for sexual and gender-based violence cases.

Following widespread protests in 2024, we continue to encourage the authorities to protect civic space and media freedom, and the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution.

We recommend that Kenya:

1. Fully implements the National Coroners Service Act 2017.
2. Strengthens anti-corruption and counter-illicit finance laws and practices, including by protecting whistle blowers, and passing and implementing the Conflict-of-Interest bill.
3. Implement the two-thirds gender principle in all elective or appointive bodies, with particular focus on the 2027 elections.