Torture And Other Cruel, Inhuman Or Degrading Treatment: Their Impact On Human Rights Enforcement In Kenya.

ABSTRACT Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment. The Constitution prohibits such practices; however, security forces continue to use tmiure and physical violence during intenogation and to punish both pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners.· Although authorities periodically issue directives against the use of to1iure by police, the problem persists and remains a serious problem. The Government has not provided information on the number of cases of torture that occur yearly. Human rights organizations, churches, and the press highlights and criticizes numerous cases of torture and several cases of indiscriminate beatings of groups of persons by police every year. Common methods of torture practiced by police include hanging persons upside down for long periods, genital mutilation, electric shocks, and deprivation of air by submersion of the head in water. Prison conditions are harsh and life threatening. Prisoners are subjected to severe overcrowding, deficient health care, and unsanitary conditions, and receive inadequate water, diet, and bedding. Police and prison guards subject prisoners to tortureandinhuman treatment. Rape of both male and female inmates, primarily by fellow inmates, is a serious problem, as is the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS. Disease in prisons is widespread, and the death rate is high. Prisoners sometimes are kept in solitary confinement far longer than the maximum 90 days allowed by law. Prisoners and detainees frequently are denied the right to contact relatives or lawyers. Family members visiting prisoners face numerous bureaucratic and physical obstacles, each requiring a bribe. Taking effective legislative, administrative, judicial and criminalization of acts of torture and improvement of the prison conditions will go a long way in alleviating torture and other cruel or inhuman and degrading treatment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. iv 

APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................... v 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................. vi 

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ vii 

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................... : .......................... viii 

LIST OF CASES ............................................................................................................................. ix 

LIST OF STATUTES ....................................................................................................................... x 

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................... xi 

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................. I 

1.2 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................................ 3 

1.3 Objectives of the study ............................................................................................................... 3 

1.4 Justification of the study ............................................................................................................. 4 

1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 4 

1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 5 

1.6.1 Documentary review ................................................................................................................ 6 

1.6.2 Processing and analysis of data ............................................................................................... 6 

1.6.3 Editing ...................................................................................................................................... 7 

1.6.4. Coding ..................................................................................................................................... 7 

1.6.5 Ethical Consideration ............................................................................................................... 7 

1.6.6 Limitations of the study ........................................................................................................... 7 

1. 7. Scope and significance .............................................................................................................. 8 

1.8. SYNOPSIS OF DISSERTATION ............................................................................................. 8 

CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 10 

HISTORY OF THE WORK AGAINST TORTURE ................................................................ lO 

Emergence of Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims ............................................................. 12 

CHAPTER THREE. ..................................................................................................................... 14 

TORTURE IN KENYA ................................................................................................................ 14 

Prisons and detention centers conditions ........................................................................................ 19 

GOVERNMENT ACTION ............................................................................................................ 25 

DOMESTIC MECHANISMS ........................................................................................................ 26 

!.THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA .......................................................................................... 26 

2. EVIDENCE ACT CAP 80 .......................................................................................................... 27 

3. POLICE ACT CAP 84 ................................................................................................................ 27 

CASE LAWS .................................................................................................................................. 28 

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 33 

CHAPTER FOUR. ....................................................................................................................... 39 

THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT GIVE ABSOLUTE 

PROTECTION FROM TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING 

TREATMENT ............................................................................................................................... 39 

Committee against Torture ............................................................................................................. 42 

Commission on Human Rights ....................................................................................................... 42 

Human Rights Committee ............................ : ................................................................................. 43 

ii 

CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 54 

RECOMMENDATIONS/WAY FORWARD . ........................................................................... 54 

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 59 

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 60 

APPENDIX I: TIME FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................... 63 

APPENDIX II: BUDGET ............................................. , ................................................................. 64