State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs KE

08/10/2026

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐀’𝐒 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 (𝐍𝐀𝐏-𝐁𝐇𝐑) – 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐: 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄–𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐒

Following the thematic workshop on Land, Natural Resources and Technology, the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, in collaboration with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and with support from the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), convened the second thematic workshop today focused on Labour Rights and the State-Business Nexus.

Building on the Land and Tech deliberations, today's session brought together the NAP-BHR Technical Working Group to examine:

a) Decent work, fair wages and occupational safety and health in business operations;
b) The State duty to protect workers through regulation, inspections and access to remedy; and
c) Responsible conduct by State-owned enterprises and in public procurement.

The two-day thematic consultations mark a key milestone in the review of the NAP-BHR 2021–2025 and will directly inform Kenya’s second National Action Plan.

07/10/2026

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐌 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓

This week, the Victim Protection Board (VPB) is undertaking the preparation of its Annual Report for the FY 2025/2026, documenting its achievements, challenges and progress towards the full operationalisation of the victim protection framework in Kenya.

The exercise is of particular significance because, behind every policy, programme, case file and statistic is a human being whose life may have been profoundly affected by crime. As underscored by the Chairperson of the Board, Hon. Judith Pareno, in her remarks delivered by the Secretary to the Board, Ms. Jedidah Waruhio of the Witness Protection Agency, victim protection must remain centred on the dignity, rights, safety and welfare of victims.

The Chairperson emphasised that the Annual Report is an important accountability mechanism for assessing the implementation of the Victim Protection Act and the performance of the Board in advancing victims’ rights, including access to justice, protection and safety, information, participation in criminal justice processes, psychosocial support, compensation and restitution. She further noted that the report should candidly highlight the challenges that continue to affect effective victim protection, including inadequate resources, limited awareness of victims’ rights, institutional capacity constraints, delays in justice processes, coordination gaps and disparities in access to services, particularly among vulnerable and marginalised groups.

The Board is composed of representatives of key institutions within the justice and victim-support system, including the State Department for Justice, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Police Service, the State Department for Correctional Services, the State Department for Children Services, the Witness Protection Agency, the National Gender and Equality Commission, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit and the Federation of Women Lawyers–Kenya (FIDA-Kenya). This multi-sectoral composition is critical in promoting coordinated and integrated responses to the needs of victims.

The Annual Report is anchored in the Victim Protection Act, 2014. Section 31(2)(g) requires the Board to prepare and submit annual reports on the exercise of its functions and performance of its mandate, while Section 32 provides for the submission of the report to the Cabinet Secretary for tabling before Parliament. The report therefore serves not merely as a statutory compliance document, but as an important instrument of accountability through which Government, Parliament, stakeholders and the public can assess the state of victim protection in Kenya.

Importantly, the report seeks to go beyond documenting activities and outputs to demonstrate the difference made in the lives of victims, lessons learnt and areas requiring further intervention. It will therefore assess both achievements and outstanding legal, institutional, financial and operational challenges affecting the Board’s effective discharge of its mandate.

The exercise comes at an important stage in the operationalisation of the victim protection framework and provides an opportunity to identify priority areas for the coming year, strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve referral and support mechanisms, enhance access to services and inform necessary policy, legislative and institutional reforms.

As emphasised by the Chairperson, justice cannot be measured solely by the successful conclusion of a criminal case. It must also be measured by whether victims are treated with dignity, heard and protected from further harm, able to access appropriate support and participate meaningfully in processes affecting them, and receive the remedies and assistance to which they are entitled.

The Annual Report is therefore both a statutory accountability instrument and a roadmap for strengthening a victim-centred justice system in which no victim is left behind.

06/10/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐀’𝐒 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 (𝐍𝐀𝐏-𝐁𝐇𝐑) 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, in collaboration with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), with support from the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), today convened a thematic workshop on Land, Natural Resources and Technology as part of the review of Kenya’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR) 2021–2025.

The workshop brought together members of the NAP-BHR Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Constitutional Commissions and Civil Society Organisations, among other key stakeholders.

Following the successful conclusion of the Business and Human Rights Capacity Building Forum, the thematic workshop provided an important platform for participants to share institutional perspectives, relevant information and evidence, and sector-specific experiences on emerging business and human rights issues relating to land, natural resources and technology.

The discussions will contribute to the identification of practical, evidence-based recommendations to inform the review and strengthening of Kenya’s NAP-BHR, with a focus on promoting responsible business conduct and strengthening the protection of human rights in business operations.

05/10/2026

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈-𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐘 – 𝐊𝐀𝐉𝐈𝐀𝐃𝐎

The State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs (SDJHR&CA) in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is undertaking public participation and stakeholder consultations on the Revised National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy.

The revised Policy was developed by a Multi-Agency Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising representatives from key anti-corruption and governance institutions.

The public participation and stakeholder consultation process aims to create public awareness of the provisions of the draft Policy; uphold the constitutional values and principles of public participation in policy-making; obtain professional review and input from stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations, county governments and the general public; enhance effective implementation of the Policy by securing the ownership and buy-in of stakeholders who will be directly or indirectly affected by its implementation; and strengthen public trust in the fight against corruption.

Today, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Judith Pareno, led a public participation forum in Kajiado County.

In her remarks, the PS emphasised that the Revised National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy is about building a country where integrity, accountability and responsible use of public resources are not merely principles on paper, but values reflected in the conduct of institutions, leaders, businesses and citizens in their everyday activities.

The overall objective of the Policy is to reduce corruption and unethical practices in Kenya by providing a coordinated and enforceable framework that strengthens prevention, detection, enforcement and ethical conduct across both national and county governments.

The PS noted that the draft Policy is being subjected to public participation to ensure that the views and experiences of citizens and stakeholders inform its finalisation. She encouraged participants to share their experiences on what is working, areas that require improvement, challenges faced by citizens, the accessibility and trustworthiness of reporting mechanisms, and measures that Government can put in place to protect and support those who report corruption and unethical conduct.

She further encouraged the participation of young people, women, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities, noting that their experiences and practical recommendations are critical in ensuring that the Policy translates into meaningful change in people's everyday lives.

The Kajiado consultation brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including members of the general public; National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), including the County Commissioner, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Nyumba Kumi representatives; county government officials, including representatives of the County Attorney's Office, County Executive and County Public Service Board; representatives of the Public Service Commission, Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices; as well as non-state actors, persons with disabilities, women and youth leaders, civil society organisations and community and group representatives.

During the visit, the PS also paid a courtesy call on the Senior Deputy County Commissioner Kenneth Muriungi Kajiado County, where they discussed matters relating to security and the strengthening of coordination between national and county government agencies in addressing security concerns in the county.

29/09/2026

28/09/2026

𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐍 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Judith Pareno, today led the Kenyan delegation in delivering Kenya’s Country Statement during the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice convened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

On the sidelines of the Congress, the Head of Delegation also held a bilateral meeting with the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Amb. Monica Juma. During the engagement, the PS presented the Executive Director with justice sector reports on the administration of justice in Kenya.

Also in attendance were Kenya’s Ambassador to the UAE, Amb. Kenneth Nganga, and Principal Secretary, State Department for Correctional Services, PS Salome Beacco.

21/09/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

"Young people constitute a significant proportion of Kenya’s population and will provide the leadership, professional expertise and civic participation that will shape the country in the coming years, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Judith Pareno, has said.

Speaking during a youth engagement forum at Umma University in Kajiado County, the PS emphasised that the fight against corruption cannot be left to government institutions alone, but requires the active participation of citizens, particularly young people.

She noted that youth should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of anti-corruption initiatives, but recognised as partners and active participants in promoting integrity, accountability and ethical leadership.

The PS made the remarks while delivering a keynote address during the forum convened by the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF) and coordinated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The forum is part of joint university engagement initiatives dubbed the “Campus Edition.”

The initiative seeks to provide a platform for meaningful dialogue and awareness creation, promote active youth participation in integrity and anti-corruption matters, and empower young people to champion ethical leadership, accountability and responsible citizenship.

Also present was the Principal Secretary, State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, representatives of the National Youth Council and the KLIF Secretariat.

21/09/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐰

LIVE: Youth Let’s Talk Ethics & Integrity | Youth as Integrity Champions | Umma University

21/09/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The development of the National Bill on Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities, 2026 has been undertaken through a consultative process involving key stakeholders and relevant agencies. The Bill seeks to establish a comprehensive governance and rights-based framework for the recognition, inclusion, empowerment and protection of ethnic minorities and marginalised communities, in line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

Today, the Executive Office of the President, through the Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit, convened a stakeholder validation meeting on the first draft of the Bill. The meeting brought together State and non-State actors, State Departments and other relevant stakeholders to review the proposed legislative framework and provide input towards strengthening its provisions.

Speaking during the validation meeting, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Judith Pareno said the exercise represents a crucial phase of public participation and stakeholder engagement in the development of legislation that will effectively address the long-standing challenges facing ethnic minorities and marginalised communities in Kenya.

The PS expressed appreciation to His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto for spearheading the development and delivery of the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous and Marginalized Communities, describing it as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to advance the constitutional rights of communities that have historically faced exclusion from governance and opportunities.

The PS reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment, in line with its mandate, to safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of ethnic minorities and marginalised communities.

She called on stakeholders to give particular attention to governance, inclusion, recognition, awareness creation, capacity building and access to justice as they work towards developing comprehensive and effective legislation.

The validation process provides an important platform for stakeholders to review the proposed legislative framework, share perspectives and contribute to strengthening provisions that advance the recognition, inclusion, participation and protection of ethnic minorities and marginalised communities in Kenya.

17/09/2026

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

The Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Dorcas Oduor SC, EGH, accompanied by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Judith Pareno, today visited the New Kenya School of Law (KSL) ultra-modern library and moot courts.

During the visit, the Attorney General met with the KSL Board and Management where they discussed matters relating to the institutions mandate, infrastructure development and provision of condusive learning and research facilities for law students and the legal professionals.

Addressing the students after touring the state of art library, the Attorney General commended the Kenya School of Law for its efforts to enhance access to information and strengthen legal education, urging the institution to explore further opportunities for digitisation to improve access to legal resources.

The Principal Secretary noted that the State Department is responsible for the development of laws and policies relating to human rights and legal education. She said that, in the area of legal education, the State Department’s role is to contribute to a clear and coherent legal and policy framework that supports quality legal training and professional development.

The PS emphasised the importance of a clear, coherent and predictable framework for legal education and entry into the Advocates Training Programme, noting that students should not have to navigate uncertainty arising from different laws providing different requirements.

She said the State Department is working on the necessary legal and policy measures to address these issues, while acknowledging that reforms may take time.

The PS encouraged continued efforts to improve the legal education system and ensure that the legal and policy framework keeps pace with the needs of students and the legal profession.

She further encouraged the students to make the most of their time at the Kenya School of Law by taking advantage of the opportunities available, engaging with their lecturers and fellow students, asking questions and speaking up where they see opportunities for improvement.