Training Workshops For Public Officials In County Governments And For Businesses (Private And State Owned) On Business And Human Rights

Participants during the two-day training for businesses and CSOs operating in Mombasa County

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights continues to focus its efforts on the promotion of responsible business practices in Kenya by advocating for the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (BHR). The Commission and the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice (DOJ) jointly spearhead the Committee responsible for ensuring the proposed policy actions in the NAP are implemented and monitored.

KNCHR with the technical support of DOJ and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and with financial support from the Japanese Embassy through UNDP's B+HR project on promoting responsible business, organized two-day training workshops in Nakuru, Kiambu and Mombasa counties to disseminate Kenya’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR) and sensitize stakeholders on business and human rights. Taking cognizance of the fact that state owned enterprises are key in the discourse, the invitations have been extended to both State and non-State actors, with the latter being more receptive to the discussions around human rights and business.

Participants and Ms. Victoria de Mello, a Business and Human Rights Specialist from the UNDP Africa Bureau, during the Nakuru Dissemination Forum

Through these forums the Commission seeks to build a business case for respecting human rights by helping actors identify with the human rights agenda in business as well as address human rights issues that may arise in the course of business operations. There is still need to create awareness on the three pillars: State’s duty to protect human rights; Corporate responsibility to respect human rights and; Access to remedy.

KNCHR Commissioner Hon. Sarah Bonaya joins KNCCI (Kiambu Chapter) and business actors in Kiambu County for a dissemination forum of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2021.

By Christina Arrumm, Senior Human Rights Officer (ECOSOC Division) and Advocate of the High of Kenya