UNITED
NATIONS
CAT
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.
GENERAL
CAT/C/KEN/CO/1
19 January 2009
Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
Forty-first session
3-21 November 2008
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
KENYA
1. The Committee considered the initial report of Kenya (CAT/C/KEN/1) at its 852nd
and 854th meetings, held on 13 and 14 November 2008 (CAT/C/SR.852 and 854), and, at its
860th and 861st meetings, held on 19 November 2008 (CAT/C/SR.860-861), adopted the
following conclusions and recommendations.
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of Kenya, which is in
conformity with the Committee’s guidelines for the preparation of initial reports, but regrets
that the report was submitted nine years late.
3. The Committee notes with satisfaction the frankness with which the State party
acknowledged the gaps in its legislation relating to the elimination and prevention of torture.
The Committee also appreciates the constructive and open dialogue that was conducted with
the high-level delegation from the State party, as well as the replies to the questions raised
during the dialogue.
B. Positive aspects
4. The Committee welcomes the efforts made by the State party to strengthen its legal and
institutional framework to safeguard universal human rights protection, including inter alia
the following positive developments:
(a) The ratification by the State party of most of the core international human rights treaties;
GE.09-40311