On July 10, 2025, the UPR Secretariat of Kenya chaired by the East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), met with the convenors of each of the thematic groups engaging CSOs through the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Process. The purpose of the meeting was to strategize action on taking forward recommendations by the Kenya government to protect, respect and fulfil their human right obligations during their 4th UPR cycle held in May 2025 in Geneva. The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) attended the meeting in its capacity as the convenor for the Right to Health Thematic Group.
This year, the Kenyan government had its highest number of “noted,” rather than “accepted,” recommendations, a shift that requires strategic advocacy by the group to ensure public accountability. Gilbert Onyango, Executive Director at EACHRights, emphasized that the work of the UPR does not conclude when the Geneva process ends; rather, it is critical for CSOs to continue documenting and advocating for progress on the human rights situation in Kenya. As a result, the group agreed to coordinate closely between thematic areas to ensure long-term human rights advancement in the region.
The Thematic Group Conveners began by collectively reviewing A/HRC/60/10, the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (Kenya’s government UPR report). Convenors from several Thematic Groups—including Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights, Older Persons, Refugees, Women, and Civil Rights—presented an analysis of government recommendations in the UPR relevant to their thematic focus and suggested advocacy actions. The remaining groups committed to convening CSOs and submitting implementation plans in time for advocacy with government agencies, ministries, and departments in August 2025.
The Government of Kenya will return to Geneva for finalization of the recommendations in September 2025, by when each of the thematic groups will have conducted advocacy to ensure that the Government adopts specific, targeted recommendations to support and improve the human rights situation in Kenya. KELIN remains committed to advancing the right to health and leveraging the UPR processes to ensure the full enjoyment and realization of this right for all.
Siona Sharma
Legal Fellow
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