Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback United Nations Committee Against Torture - Concluding Observations

Kenya - Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of Kenya, adopted by the Committee at its Fiftieth Session (6 - 31 May 2013) [2013] UNCATCO 9; CAT/C/KEN/CO/2 (19 June 2013)

	United Nations	CAT/C/KEN/CO/2
	Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment		Distr.: General 19 June 2013 Original: English

Committee against Torture

Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Kenya, adopted by the Committee at its fiftieth session (6 to 31 May 2013)

1. The Committee considered the second report of Kenya (CAT/C/KEN/2) at its 1146th and 1149th meetings, held on 15 and 16 May 2013 (CAT/C/SR.1146 and 1149), and adopted at its 1164th and 1165th meetings, held on 29 May 2013 (CAT/C/SR.1164 and 1165), the following conclusions and recommendations.

A. Introduction

2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the optional reporting procedure and for having submitted its periodic report under it, as it improves the cooperation between the State party and the Committee and focuses the examination of the report as well as the dialogue with the delegation. The Committee also welcomes the submission of the State Party’s core document in 2011 (HRI/CORE/KEN/2011).

3. The Committee appreciates the frank dialogue with the State party’s high-level delegation, which covered various areas of concern under the Convention.

B. Positive aspects

4. The Committee welcomes the the State party’s efforts to strengthen its legal and institutional framework to safeguard universal human rights protection, including, inter alia, the following:

(a) Enactment of the Constitution, in 2010, including especially:

(i) The comprehensive Bill of Rights, with the non-derogable right to “freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (art. 25 (a));

(ii) The principle of direct incorporation of international treaties (art. 2, para. 6) and general rules of international law (art. 2, para. 6), including customary international law, into the domestic legal framework of the State party;

(b) Ratification of the Treaties Bill, in 2012;

(c) Enactment of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board Act of 2011 with the on-going judicial reform, including the establishment of office of Director of Public Prosecutions;

(d) Enactment of the National Gender and Equality Commission Act, in 2011;

(e) Enactment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, in 2011.

5. The Committee also welcomes the delegation’s commitment to invite the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to visit Kenya.

C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

Definition of torture and appropriate penalties for acts of torture

6. While noting that the National Police Service Act (2011) criminalizes torture and ill-treatment committed by police officers, and provides for appropriate penalties, the Committee remains deeply concerned that the draft Prevention of Torture Bill (2011) has still not been enacted (arts. 1 and 4).

Considering that the State party ratified the Convention in 1997, the Committee urges the State party to table, as a matter of urgency, the Prevention of Torture Bill (2011) in Parliament, so that its provisions, which include a comprehensive definition of torture in line with article 1 of the Convention and render all acts of torture punishable by appropriate penalties, become the applicable law.

7. The Committee is concerned by the delegation’s statement that while the provisions of the Convention are incorporated into the national legal system as enforceable rights, in practice, law enforcement officers, who have committed acts of torture, are not charged with the offence of torture, but rather with other offences such as murder, assault and rape (art. 4).

The State party should ensure that, in the presence of evidence of acts of torture, public officials should be prosecuted for the crime of torture, in accordance with the definition contained in article 1 of the Convention.

8. While welcoming the information provided by the State party on the proposed amendments to the penalties for acts of torture and ill-treatment of children in the Child Justice Bill (2011), the Committee remains deeply concerned that the current Children Act (2001) provides for the penalty of “imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or a fine of fifty thousand Kenya shillings or both” for acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment of children, which is not commensurate with the gravity of these crimes (arts. 1 and 4).

The Committee urges the State party to enact the Children’s Act (Amendment) Bill (2011) and the Child Justice Bill (2011), with a view of ensuring that national legislation provides for appropriate penalties for acts of torture and ill-treatment of children, which take into account the grave nature of these offences.

Extrajudicial killings and disproportionate use of force

9. The Committee remains concerned by the persistent allegations of ongoing extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and excessive use of force by police officers, especially during “special operations”, as well as by the low rate of investigations and prosecutions of such acts. The Committee is also particularly concerned by reports of a case of a young man who died after he was shot by police officers in Nairobi, in April 2013, following the theft of a mobile phone (arts. 11 and 12).

In the light of its previous recommendation (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, para. 20), the Committee urges the State party to ensure that all cases of use of lethal force and excessive force by security forces, including those that occurred in Mandera and the Tana River District, are promptly, effectively and independently investigated, and that the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice and if convicted, sentenced according to the grave nature of such acts. In addition, the State party should:

(a) Ensure that no changes to the Independent Police Oversight Authority’s (IPOA) mandate alter its obligation to report deaths caused by the police;

(b) Properly regulate the use of firearms by the police, with a view to ensuring that they comply with the United Nations Basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials (1990);

(c) Adequately train all law enforcement personnel, especially police officers, on the use of force;

(d) Make public the results of all the investigations on extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and excessive use of force by police officers, especially the above-mentioned cases.

Fundamental legal safeguards

10. While the Committee welcomes the information on the legal safeguards afforded to persons in police custody, it is concerned that these standards are not fully upheld in practice, especially timely access to a lawyer and a medical doctor, the right to contact a family member and timely presentation before a judicial authority (arts. 2 and 11).

The State party should ensure that, in law and in practice, all detainees are afforded the fundamental legal safeguards from the moment of arrest, including the right to a lawyer, to notify a relative, to request an independent medical examination and to be presented to a judicial authority within 24 hours, as provided for in article 49 (para. 1 (f) (i)) of the Constitution. To this effect, the Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 2 (2008) on the implementation of article 2 by States parties, that is, effectively preventing torture and ill-treatment. Further, the State party should ensure that the Persons Deprived of Liberty Bill (2012) contains all the necessary legal safeguards and is tabled in Parliament.

Police reform and investigations

11. While noting with appreciation the ongoing police reforms, in particular the enactment of the National Police Service Act (2011), the establishment of the IPOA and the adoption of a Police Code of Conduct, the Committee remains deeply concerned by the persistent failure by the State party to promptly, impartially and effectively investigate all allegations of acts of torture and ill-treatment by police officers, and to prosecute the alleged perpetrators (arts. 12 and 13).

The Committee urges the State party to take all necessary measures to ensure that the National Police Service Act (2011) is effectively implemented, ascertain that all allegations of acts of torture or ill-treatment by police officials are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated, duly prosecuted under the offence of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and if convicted, punished appropriately. In particular, the State party should ensure that:

(a) The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) has sufficient financial and human resources to effectively carry out its mandate, including the collection of independent data on complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties against law enforcement officials for acts of torture and ill-treatment;

(b) The National Police Service Commission is sufficiently funded and that it prioritizes the use of a vetting system, whereby alleged offenders are suspended from duty, pending investigation, and appropriately prosecuted;

(c) The Coroner’s Service Bill (2011) is enacted and the independent medical examiners service, proposed therein, promptly established.

Conditions of detention

12. While acknowledging the steps taken by the State party to improve conditions in all places of detention, including the enactment of the Power of Mercy Act (2011), allocation of additional financial resources and measures taken to reduce overcrowding, the Committee remains deeply concerned about detention conditions, in particular the persistent levels of overcrowding, lack of appropriate health services, prevalence of prison violence, including inter-prisoner violence and sexual abuse, and the practice of detaining children under the age of 4 with their mothers (arts. 2, 11 and 16).

Recalling its previous recommendation (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, para. 15), the Committee urges the State party to strengthen its efforts to bring detention conditions into line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and, in particular, to:

(a) Take all appropriate measures to address the high level of violence in prisons, including sexual violence, prevent sexual exploitation of detainees and punish those found responsible of such acts;

(b) Further reduce overcrowding in prisons by increasing the use of non-custodial measures and Community Service Orders, especially for minor offences;

(c) Adopt the draft Correctional Policy with a view to effectively improving conditions in all places of detention and ensuring that adequate health services are made available.

In addition, the State party should reduce the practice of imprisoning children with their mothers by increasing the use of non-custodial measures, and ensure that, if detention is unavoidable, their detention conditions are in accordance with the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) (General Assembly resolution 65/229, annex).

13. While welcoming the information provided by the delegation on the measures taken to address the issue of HIV in prisons, the Committee remains concerned by the prevalence of HIV in places of detention and by allegations of transmission of HIV among detainees (art. 16).

The Committee urges the State party to adopt all necessary measures to protect detainees from contracting HIV, including through awareness-raising campaigns and, when appropriate, by making condoms available.

National human rights institution

14. The Committee welcomes the re-establishment of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in 2011, following the enactment of the KNCHR Act (2011), and its work in monitoring the conditions in prisons and detention centres, but remains concerned by the lack of an unconditional commitment on the part of the State party to provide adequate funding to the Commission to enable it to carry out its mandate. It further regrets the lack of information on the dissemination of reports on the Commission’s visits to places of deprivation of liberty (art. 2).

The State party should unconditionally commit to providing the Commission with sufficient financial resources necessary to enable it to carry out its mandate in accordance with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions (the Paris Principles) (General Assembly resolution 48/134, annex). In addition, the reports produced by the KNCHR on its visits to places of detention should be made public.

Pretrial detention

15. While welcoming the information provided by the State party on the measures to reduce the length of pretrial detention, the Committee remains concerned by the high number of detainees awaiting trial, and the long period of pretrial detention – up to four years. The Committee acknowledges the improvements to the bail system, but is concerned that the bail conditions are still too prohibitive to be effective in practice (arts. 2, 11 and 16).

The State party should take all necessary measures to reduce overcrowding in places of detention, in particular by:

(a) Strengthening its efforts to reduce the backlog of cases, including by increasing judicial capacity and reviewing the current criminal justice policy;

(b) Enacting the Bail Information and Supervision Bill (2011);

(c) Affording non-custodial sentencing measures and sensitizing the relevant judicial personnel to the use of such measures, in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules) (General Assembly resolution 45/110, annex).

Arbitrary arrests and police corruption

16. The Committee is concerned by persistent allegations of the widespread practice of arbitrary detention by the police, frequently connected to extortion of those detained and particularly targeting economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods (arts. 2, 11 and 16).

With reference to the recommendations made in paragraph 11 of the present concluding observations, the State party should also take all necessary measures to determine cases where vulnerable persons are prone to arbitrary arrest, prevent such acts and put in place systems to ensure that police corruption is promptly, effectively and impartially investigated. Perpetrators should be suspended from duties while under investigation and brought to justice.

Lynchings

17. The Committee is concerned by reports on cases of lynchings, in particular of elderly women accused of witchcraft, and by the allegations that these acts have not been effectively investigated, prosecuted and punished, even in cases where there is video evidence of the lynching (arts. 2 and 12).

The Committee urges the State party to amend the Witchcraft Act (1925) to bring it into conformity with the Constitution and international human rights standards in order to eliminate the practice of lynching. The State party should investigate, prosecute and appropriately punish the perpetrators of such acts, in order to ensure the security and safety of all persons.

Investigation of the post-election violence

18. While the Committee welcomes the information provided by the delegation that the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission’s report has been submitted to the President and released, it remains concerned that the report has not yet been considered by the Government and, as a result, its outcome is still unknown. The Committee regrets the lack of publication of the final report of the Multi-Agency Taskforce; it is also concerned at the delay in effectively and impartially investigating the 2007 and 2008 post-election violence, with the result that perpetrators continue to be at large (arts. 11, 12 and 14).

Recalling its previous recommendations (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, paras. 19 and 20), the Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Strengthen its efforts to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigation of all allegations of excessive use of force, torture and extra-judicial killings by the police and the military during the post-election violence, that perpetrators are prosecuted and, on conviction, appropriately punished. All victims should obtain adequate redress;

(b) Continue its cooperation with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court;

(c) Make public the report of the Multi-Agency Taskforce;

(d) Ensure that the report by the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission is considered without delay, published, and its recommendations implemented.

Refugees and counter-terrorism measures

19. While the Committee commends the State party’s efforts in providing sanctuary to over 600,000 refugees and recognizes the State party’s legitimate national security concerns, in particular with regard to its border with Somalia, it remains concerned by allegations of police violence, including killings, and by the level of sexual and gender-based violence in the refugee camps. It is also concerned by the State party’s failure to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish the acts perpetrated by the security forces during the “special operation” in Mandera, in October 2008; in Dadaab refugee camps, between 2008 and 2010; in Eastleigh between mid-November 2012 and late January 2013. In particular, the Committee is concerned by the absence of an effective investigation into the police killing of two refugees in the Daghaley refugee camp in June 2011 (arts. 2, 11 and 12).

The Committee urges the State party to ensure that all police and military operations, including counter-terrorism activities, are carried out in full compliance with the Convention and the State party’s obligations under international law. The State party should promptly, effectively and impartially investigate any allegation of torture and ill-treatment of ethnic Somalis perpetrated by the police and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted and punished according to the gravity of their acts. The State party should compile and publish data on the investigations carry out, including by any committees of inquiry established in this context, and their outcomes.

Non-refoulement

20. The Committee notes the information provided by the delegation that the State Party operates an open border policy with Somalia and all asylum applicants are treated in accordance with the State party’s obligations under international and regional conventions on human rights and refugees. Nevertheless, the Committee recalls its previous recommendations (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, paras. 16 and 17), and notes with concern reports of cases of deportations effected without due process and of Somali asylum seekers being turned back at the border for reasons of national security (art. 3).

The State party should amend its legislation and bills, including the Refugee Bill (2006), the Extradition (Contagious and Foreign Countries) Act (2010), the Extradition (Commonwealth Countries) Act (2010), the Kenya Citizenship and Immigrations Act (2011) and the Refugee Bill (2012) to ensure that its law conforms to its non-refoulement obligation under article 3 of the Convention. The State party should enact the amended Refugee Bill (2012) and adopt the Draft National Refugee Policy (2012) to ensure that all asylum applicants are afforded due process. The State Party should also ensure that, in practice, foreigners are not expelled, returned or extradited under any circumstances to countries where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture in the country of destination.

Witness protection

21. The Committee welcomes the enactment of the Witness Protection (Amendment) Act (2010) and the establishment of the Witness Protection Agency (2011). However, it is concerned that, in practice, witnesses and their families are reportedly still vulnerable to threats and reprisals by law enforcement personnel who seek to eliminate evidence that could be used against them under this Act. The Committee is concerned that the Agency’s budget overemphasizes administrative matters and allocates an insufficient amount of resources for the purpose of witness protection (arts. 2, 13 and 16).

The State party should take immediate and effective measures to ensure that the provisions of the Witness Protection Act are upheld in practice in order to effectively protect witnesses and their families, all allegations of violations are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated, and alleged perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. The State party should allocate sufficient resources to the Witness Protection Agency to enable it to function effectively in practice.

Complaints mechanisms

22. While the Committee acknowledges the steps taken by the State party to improve the quality and access to the “P3” form, it remains concerned by the impediments inhibiting its effective use by a victim of torture and ill-treatment, such as the high fees charged by medical professionals to complete the form and the insistence that the complaint form be first filled in at a police station (art. 13).

Recalling its previous recommendation (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, para. 24), the Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to ensure that all victims of torture and ill-treatment have effective access to complaint mechanisms and their cases are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated. In particular, the State party should:

(a) Review the “P3” form to ensure compliance with the standards of the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Protocol) and make the form available free of charge at all public hospitals;

(b) Ensure that the medical professionals filling in the “P3” form are adequately remunerated, including for giving testimony in court, to ensure that the right of a complainant is not tied to his economic situation;

(c) Take measures, including training medical professionals, to integrate forensic medical services in the mainstream health framework;

(d) Take effective measures to ensure that victims alleging abuse in places of detention can complain to an independent and impartial institution.

Adequate compensation

23. While acknowledging the information on modalities of compensation, civil court decisions awarding compensation to victims of torture and ill-treatment or their families and the Victims of Offences Bill, the Committee regrets the continued absence of a comprehensive legislative framework providing for effective redress for victims of torture and ill-treatment and that health care for victims of torture is not covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund. The Committee is also concerned that victims are directed to lengthy and costly civil procedures to realize their rights. It remains particularly concerned that most victims of the 2007 and 2008 post-election violence and the “special security operations” are still awaiting redress and compensation (art. 14).

The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its recently adopted general comment No. 3 (2012) on the implementation of article 14 of the Convention, which explains the content and scope of State parties’ obligation to provide full redress to victims of torture. In particular, it defines victims of torture or ill-treatment as persons who have individually or collectively suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that constitute violations of the Convention, and states that such persons should be considered victims, regardless of whether the perpetrator of the violation is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted (para. 3).

The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Repeal, as a matter of urgency, the one-year limitation for tort claims against government officials;

(b) Strengthen its efforts to reduce delays in civil compensation cases;

(c) Enact the Victims of Offences Bill with a view to establishing a comprehensive legislative framework to give effect to the right to redress, including compensation and medical rehabilitation;

(d) Consult with relevant stakeholders to properly and effectively regulate the National Fund for Victims of Torture as soon as possible;

(e) Ensure that the right to rehabilitation is included in the Prevention of Torture Bill (2011), that adequate resources are allocated for effective rehabilitation treatment and programmes, including medical and psychological programmes as well as those provided by non-State services. Rehabilitation services should be duly covered under the National Hospital Insurance Fund.

Training

24. While the Committee notes with appreciation the 50 per cent increase in the budget allocation for the police training programme and the progress made in training over 25,000 police officers, it remains concerned by the limited scope of the programme and the lack of an effective evaluation mechanism of the training programme as well as the absence of training for military and relevant medical personnel (art. 10).

The Committee recommends that the State party redouble its efforts to train the police on human rights, especially the provisions of the Convention, and extend the training programme to all law enforcement and military personnel and carry out an effective evaluation of the impact of the training programme. It further recommends that the State party ensure that all relevant medical and law enforcement personnel are trained on the Istanbul Protocol (2004) and take measures to ensure that the standards contained therein are properly applied in practice.

Access to justice

25. While the Committee takes note of the State party’s national legal aid scheme and welcomes the information that the Legal Aid Bill (2012) will be “enacted within one year”, it remains concerned about the persistent problem of access to justice, particularly by those without economic resources (art. 2).

The State party should promptly table the Legal Aid Bill (2012) in Parliament, together with the National Legal Aid policy, and ensure that it is operational countrywide and provide it with adequate resources to function properly so as to ensure that lack of resources is not an obstacle to accessing justice. Further, the State party should continue its efforts to increase the number of lawyers throughout the country.

Female genital mutilation

26. While the Committee welcomes the enactment in 2011 of the Female Genital Mutilation Act and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development’s work on raising awareness against female genital mutilation, it remains concerned by the prevalence of the practice. The Committee is further concerned that the power to enter premises without a warrant that is afforded to “chiefs and children’s officers” by the Act does not have legal safeguards (arts. 2, 11 and 12).

The State Party should redouble its efforts to eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation, including through awareness-raising campaigns and by prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of such acts. The State party should ensure that all measures to combat the practice comply with legal safeguards.

Reproductive health facilities

27. The Committee welcomes the waiver on maternity fees in public hospitals, but remains concerned about ill-treatment of women who seek access to reproductive health services, in particular the ongoing practice of post-delivery detention of women unable to pay their medical bills, including in private health facilities. The Committee is further concerned by occurrences of forced and coerced sterilization of HIV positive women and women with disabilities (arts. 2, 12 and 16).

The Committee urges the State party to strengthen its efforts to end the practice of forcible detention of post-delivery mothers for non-payment of fees, including in private health facilities.

The State party should strengthen its efforts to investigate allegations of involuntary sterilizations or other harmful practices in connection with reproductive health, and identify and punish those involved in such practices.

The State party should enact the Family Protection Bill to give effect to the right to health as provided for in article 43 of the State party’s Constitution. The Commission on the Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) should publish detailed reports on complaints, follow-up and outcomes. The State party should ensure that the National Gender and Equality Commission effectively monitors the conditions in reproductive health facilities by issuing periodic status reports.

Abortion in case of rape or incest

28. While acknowledging the information provided by the State party that in practice physicians may allow abortion in cases where a woman has been subjected to incest or rape, the Committee is concerned that there is no right to abortion in such cases and, as a consequence, women are left in an unjustified discretionary situation with grave repercussions on their health due to the resulting uncertainty for women and medical doctors (art. 2 and 16)

The Committee recommends that the State party amend its legislation in order to grant women who have been subjected to rape or incest the right to abortion independently of any medical professional’s discretion.

The Committee recommends that the State party evaluate the effects of its restrictive legislation on abortion on women’s health with a view to regulating this area with sufficient clarity.

Juvenile justice and age of criminal responsibility

29. While noting the information that the Children Act (Amendment Bill) (2011) and the Child Justice Bill (2011) propose raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, the Committee remains concerned that the bills have not been enacted and that the age of criminal responsibility remains at 8 years (art. 2).

The Committee recommends that the State party adopt the bills on children with a view to raising the age of criminal responsibility to internationally acceptable standards, as expressed in general comment No. 10 (2007) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on children’s rights in juvenile justice (paras. 32 and 33). The State party should ensure the full implementation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules) (General Assembly resolution 40/33), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines) (General Assembly resolution 45/112, annex) and the United Nations Guidelines for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty (General Assembly resolution 45/113).

Violence against children

30. The Committee is concerned by the lack of effective monitoring of violence against children in schools and in public institutions. While the Committee welcomes the establishment of 14 Child Protection Units in police stations, it remains concerned that these are concentrated in urban centres, leaving children in rural areas without such protection (arts. 2 and 11).

The State party should strengthen its complaints mechanisms, follow-up procedures and support services for children who have been tortured and abused, including by extending Child Protection Units to police stations countrywide and by affording countrywide child helpline call centres. The State party should also strengthen its inspection and monitoring of Charitable Children Institutions to ensure that children do not stay for long periods, unless under special circumstances. The State Party should take effective measures to ensure that all children are always protected from violence and other forms of mistreatment in schools and institutions.

The findings of the National Gender and Equality Commission’s monitoring of children’s institutions should be made available and its recommendations should be implemented.

Mental health institutions

31. The Committee is concerned by reports of deplorable conditions in psychiatric institutions and other places of deprivation of liberty and regrets the lack of information by the State party on the conditions in such institutions (arts. 16).

The State party should ensure that all places of deprivation of liberty, including psychiatric hospitals, are adequately monitored and that effective safeguards are in place to prevent any ill-treatment of persons in such facilities. The State party is urged to provide detailed information on the place, time and periodicity of visits, including unannounced visits, to psychiatric institutions and other places of deprivation of liberty, and on the findings and follow-up on the outcome of such visits.

Human rights defenders

32. The Committee is concerned that human rights defenders continue to report intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment by the police. The Committee is concerned by the State party’s inability to provide effective support to human rights defenders and to promptly, effectively and impartially investigate, prosecute and punish acts of violence and intimidation against human rights defenders. The Committee regrets the lack of information on the investigation of the reported attack on 9 November 2012 on the executive director of the NGO Kenyans for Justice and Development (arts. 2, 12, 13 and 16).

Bearing in mind the Committee’s previous recommendation (CAT/C/KEN/CO/1, para. 28), the State party should take effective steps to ensure that all persons reporting acts of torture and ill-treatment are protected from intimidation and reprisals in any form. The State party should ensure prompt, effective and impartial investigations of any allegations of abuse or intimidations against human rights defenders, including the attack of 9 November 2012. The Committee encourages the State party to seek closer cooperation with civil society in upholding human rights, including the prevention of intimidation, reprisals and ill-treatment of human rights defenders.

Death penalty

33. While acknowledging that the death penalty has not been applied in the State party since 1987, the de facto moratorium on the death penalty and the President’s initiative to commute 4,000 death sentences in 2009, the Committee remains concerned by the legal uncertainty following the High Court’s judgements, the high number of death sentences passed, including for minor offences, and the conditions of the 1,600 persons still on death row (arts. 2 and 16).

The Committee recommends that the State party reconsider the possibility of reviewing its policy with a view to abolishing the death penalty. The State party should ensure that all persons on death row are afforded the protection provided for under the Convention and are treated humanely. The State party should support the efforts of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to conduct a survey and awareness-raising measures regarding public opinion on the death penalty.

Deaths of police officers

34. The Committee is concerned by reports of a high number of deaths of police officers while on duty, including in the context of “special operations” in Mandera District and Tana River District (arts. 2, 10 and 16).

The State party should ensure that police officers are trained and equipped appropriately so as to ensure sufficient preparation for the tasks at hand. The State party should improve the terms and conditions of service for police officers to be at the same level as other security forces, and take effective measures to protect the lives of security officers.

Data collection

35. The State party should establish a system to compile national statistics and should provide statistical data relevant to the monitoring of the implementation of the Convention at the national level, including data on complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, domestic and sexual violence as well as on means of redress, including compensation and rehabilitation, provided to victims.

Cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms

36. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms, including by inviting Special procedures mandate holders on areas related to this report to visit the country.

Other issues

37. Recalling the commitment made by the State Party during the universal periodic review in 2010 (A/HRC/15/8, para.101.3), the Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

38. The Committee recommends that the State party consider making the declarations envisaged under articles 21 and 22 of the Convention.

39. The Committee invites the State party to ratify the core United Nations human rights treaties to which it is not yet a party, namely the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

40. The Committee requests the State party to provide, by 31 May 2014, follow-up information in response to the Committee’s recommendations related to (a) ensuring or strengthening legal safeguards for persons detained, (b) conducting, prompt, impartial and effective investigations, and (c) prosecuting suspects and sanctioning perpetrators of torture or ill-treatment, as contained in paragraphs 9, 10, 17 and 18 of the present document.

41. The State party is invited to submit its next report, which will be its third periodic report, by 31 May 2017. To that purpose, the Committee will, in due course, transmit to the State party a list of issues prior to reporting, considering that the State party has accepted to report to the Committee under the optional reporting procedure.