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

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