Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi has called on the world to confront the enduring effects of colonialism and address modern manifestations of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and Afrophobia. Speaking at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advocating for marginalized groups and promoting justice.
As the Chair Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Durban Declaration, Mudavadi emphasized Kenya’s support for the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which focuses on reparatory justice and development. He highlighted the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, as a strong statement of the continent’s commitment to historical accountability.
Mudavadi noted that Kenya is actively updating its 2014 National Policy and Action Plan on Human Rights to address emerging digital challenges. He acknowledged the dangers of disinformation, the weaponization of technology, and the dual-use nature of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing the need for mitigation strategies.
As Africa’s Silicon Savannah, Kenya is also embracing AI’s potential for development. Mudavadi revealed that the government is crafting a National AI Strategy 2025-2030 to enhance data sovereignty and inclusive digital growth. He urged the Human Rights Council to advocate for equitable access to technology and digital skills, arguing that access to information should be recognized as a fundamental human right.
Mudavadi decried the rising number of conflicts worldwide, warning of severe human rights violations, including war crimes, genocide, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. He cited conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Libya, Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Haiti, and Myanmar as key contributors to global humanitarian crises.
According to UNHCR, over 139 million people are expected to be displaced or rendered stateless by 2025, including 47 million children, as reported by UNICEF. Mudavadi underscored Kenya’s peace initiatives in DRC, Sudan, Somalia, and Haiti, stressing that sustainable peace is intrinsically linked to human rights protection.
Mudavadi emphasized the need for Global Financial Architecture reforms to help Africa build capacity for conflict prevention and resolution. He also identified corruption as a major threat to human rights, calling for stronger anti-graft measures through Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Kenya, he reaffirmed, remains committed to championing justice, digital inclusion, and global peace.
