Extrajudicial killings: Geneva test for Kenya

• Kenya’s case will come before the UN Human Rights Council, the UN’s top organ on human rights, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
• Mutula Kilonzo said the Alston report has many exaggerated findings.
• Mr Kilonzo admitted that the government had failed in some aspects of justice and governance, hence the impending reforms.

“I do not need Prof Alston to tell me as a minister what requires to be done. What I will not do is to individualise institutional problems and look at the individuals,” said Mr Kilonzo.

In its defence, the government states that it expected Prof Alston’s report to compliment the wide-ranging reforms that it has been undertaking. It begins by denying the accusation that the government officially sanctions police executions.

It also denies findings that the police force lacks internal and external oversight organs and mentions the role of Parliament, the Police Oversight Board, and the Public Complaints Standing Committee (the Ombudsman) as bodies that watch over police operations.

However, it agrees with Prof Alston’s recommendations on witness protection, the need to speed up the criminal justice system, the pace of reforms and, internal and external oversight organs within the police force.

The Kenya National Youth Alliance – the political wing of the Mungiki sect – welcomed the Alston report and urged the government to implement its findings.