Wednesday, 4^th March 2020

Submission to the Senate: Situation of Judicial Executions (EJEs) and Enforced Disappearances (EDs) in Kenya. Human Rights Defenders, Journalists and Whistle-blowers Working on EJEs

The Defenders Coalition, which is the national coalition of human rights defenders in Kenya has in the last 12 years been receiving cases of threats and reprisals against HRDs in Kenya.

The HRDs investigating, reporting and calling out the perpetrators, they have been met with glaring life threats, intimidation and evictions by landlords who collude with the trigger-happy cops.

The Coalition is worried that the HRDs who help victims of EJEs and EDs do not get state protection as the victims they assist

The Defenders Coalition has been in the forefront in offering protection to the HRDS through, medical and psychosocial support, legal support and also relocation services.

However, the cases continue to increase with increased number of killings, media interviews, release of investigative journalism pieces and dissemination of reports consolidated by HRDs on Extra Judicial Executions and Enforced Disappearances.

In 2020 alone, Defenders Coalition has responded to 5 cases of HRDs who have either been physically assaulted by the cops, threatened and others intimidated through trailing and arbitrary arrests.

Our asks to the committee:

1. The Defenders Coalition in conjunction with KNCHR have developed a model HRD Protection Policy, we request the committee to recommend for its adoption and domestication by the National Police Service, Witness Protection Agency and other relevant government institutions.
2. The state to assure the HRDs of their security as they conduct their work through investigations, arrests and prosecution of the perpetrators of these vices.