Amnesty International Kenya welcomes KNCHR reparations framework, calls for full implementation

Amnesty International Kenya has welcomed the publication of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Framework for Reparations for Victims of Human Rights Violations, describing it as a significant step toward justice, accountability, and redress for victims across the country.

In a statement issued on June 18, Amnesty International Kenya said the framework marks an important milestone in addressing decades of human rights abuses, including unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and arbitrary arrests.

The rights organization praised the framework for recognizing reparations as an independent right that should not depend on the outcome of criminal, disciplinary, or civil proceedings. It noted that victims should not be forced to wait years for accountability processes before receiving assistance and redress.

Amnesty also welcomed provisions calling for a formal public apology by the State, stronger victim participation in the reparations process, and a review of criminal cases brought against human rights defenders and protesters exercising their constitutional rights.

The organization further praised recommendations relating to memorialization efforts, support for families of missing persons, and measures aimed at addressing enforced disappearances, including the adoption of relevant international legal instruments.

While describing the framework as a major achievement, Amnesty International Kenya stressed that reparations alone cannot deliver justice. The organization called for stronger accountability measures, noting that many cases involving alleged human rights violations during demonstrations between 2024 and 2026 have yet to result in prosecutions.

Amnesty urged the Kenyan government to establish a Reparations Fund, enact comprehensive legislation, adopt a National Reparations Policy, and allocate adequate resources to ensure victims receive timely and effective remedies.

“Victims and families deserve more than financial compensation; they deserve truth, accountability, and justice,” the statement said, emphasizing that efforts to provide reparations must be accompanied by investigations and prosecutions to prevent future violations.

Mustaqbal