Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged the world to confront the enduring legacies of colonialism, address its contemporary manifestations, and build a more just society.
Speaking at the opening of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Mudavadi, who also serves as Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advocating for marginalized groups amid rising xenophobia, Afrophobia, and racial discrimination.
As the current Chair Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Durban Declaration, Mudavadi said Kenya was dedicated to combating racism and related intolerance, welcoming the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and its focus on reparatory justice and development.
“It is important to mention that the 2025 AU Theme of the year ‘Justice for Africans and The People of the African Descent Through Reparations’ a clear demonstration of Africa’s commitment to justice, accountability and the recognition of historical injustices,” said Mudavadi.
The PCS noted that Kenya is actively addressing emerging human rights challenges in the digital age by reviewing the 2014 National Policy and Action Plan on Human Rights to integrate evolving issues, particularly those related to technology and bridging the digital divide.
“We recognize the challenges that emerging technologies present, such as disinformation campaigns fueled by generative AI, the weaponization of technology, and its dual-use nature, which must be mitigated,” he stated.
However, as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, Mudavadi said that Kenya was also alive to the transformative potential of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in advancing development; thus, was developing a National AI Strategy 2025-2030 which focuses on strengthening data sovereignty and inclusive development.
He called on the Human Rights Council to promote equitable access to emerging technologies, critical infrastructure, and digital skills to ensure full participation in the information society.
“During our tenure, Kenya aims to advocate for the recognition of access to technology as an essential component of the right to information, as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We welcome all efforts towards ensuring that technology is accessible, affordable, and beneficial for all,” said Mudavadi.
On global peace, Mudavadi decried the rise in wars and conflicts, warning of increased human rights violations, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
“The world is witnessing violent conflicts characterized by indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including schools and hospitals, the use of sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon of war, a rise in violent extremism, economic devastation, and forced displacements,” he said.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 139 million people globally will be forcibly displaced or rendered stateless by the end of 2025 due to conflicts. UNICEF estimates that 47 million children will be displaced by then, with numbers expected to rise.
Citing a Save the Children International report, Mudavadi noted that one in eleven children worldwide is being denied basic rights due to conflict, climate change, and economic instability.
He singled out conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Libya, Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Haiti, and Myanmar, as well as Africa’s forgotten conflicts, as contributing to humanitarian crises.
“In DRC alone, cases of sexual violence have reached unprecedented levels, with reports indicating a five-fold increase in child rape cases within a single week from January 27 to February 2, 2025,” he said.
Kenya, he added, remains actively engaged in peace initiatives in DRC, Sudan, Somalia, and Haiti, recognizing that sustainable peace is linked to human rights protection.
“We believe the Council’s work is more vital than ever, serving as a critical platform for addressing human rights abuses, which are often both a cause and consequence of conflict,” he stated.
Mudavadi called for reforms in the Global Financial Architecture to enable Africa to build capacity to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts.
“Kenya will champion discussions on the human rights economy, highlighting the need for structural changes in the global financial system to ensure nations can effectively uphold their human rights obligations,” he said.
Mudavadi underscored corruption as a major threat to human rights, noting that it exacerbates violations against vulnerable groups by limiting access to essential services such as legal representation, fair trials, education, healthcare, and social protection.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to fighting graft through institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and strengthening anti-corruption legislation and policies.
