A/HRC/7/3/Add.2 page 65 Kenya Follow-up to the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur in the report of his visit to Kenya in September 1999 (E/CN.4/2000/9/Add.4, para. 92) 296. On 27 March 2007, during the interactive dialogue at the fourth session of the Human Rights Council, representatives of the Government of Kenya orally informed the Special Rapporteur of a number of developments in Kenya. 297. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the information provided by the Government; the first such occasion that follow-up information has been provided. He looks forward to continuing this constructive dialogue on the recommendations. The Special Rapporteur further encourages the Government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 298. Recommendation (a) stated: The Government should ensure that all allegations of torture and similar ill-treatment are promptly, independently and thoroughly investigated by a body capable of prosecuting perpetrators; 299. The Government informed that a special targeted programme known as the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector Reform Programme (GJLOS), the Civilian Police Oversight Body is in the process of being established to ensure impartial and independent investigations against the police, including any allegations of torture. 300. Training programmes are being conducted for police and prison officers on the prevention and prohibition of acts that may constitute torture and to sensitise them on the need for human treatment of persons in custody. The police and prison departments are currently undertaking reforms to improve their human rights record. 301. Recommendation (b) stated: The police, at a level at least as senior as Assistant-Commissioner, should systematically make thorough, unannounced visits to police stations to verify the legality of the detention of all persons held, as well as their treatment and conditions of detention. Disciplinary and, as appropriate, criminal charges should be preferred in respect of any abuses; 302. Recommendation (c) stated: A body such as the Standing Committee on Human Rights should be endowed with the authority and resources to inspect at will, as necessary and without notice, any place of deprivation of liberty, whether officially recognized or suspected, to publicize its findings regularly and to submit evidence of criminal behaviour to the relevant prosecutorial body and the administrative superiors of the public authority whose acts are in question; reputable non-governmental organizations could be associated with these functions; 303. The Government informed that in 2003, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights was established by an Act of Parliament, in accordance with the Paris Principles, with quasi-judicial powers to investigate human rights violations, including

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