Freedom of Association There were reports of the threat to the freedom of association especially for Civil Society Organizations from 2013 to 2016. The State had proposed stringent measures against CSOs especially in the wake of insecurity in the country. The State allegedly linked some CSOs to terrorism and used that avenue to curtail their freedom of association. The notable organizations that were affected in this way were MUHURI and Haki Africa. Through a court case, they were able to have the act of the State declared illegal in November 2015 and they resumed operations. The Public Benefits Organisations Act 2013 had not been operationalized for a long time. Through protracted engagement between the State, KNCHR and CSOs the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning finally operationalized the Act in September 2016. This Act is crucial in guiding the work of Public Benefit Organizations in Kenya. This is a good step forward towards enhancing the freedom of association in Kenya. Freedom of Assembly, Demonstration, Picketing and Petition This right was violated during the demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. These demonstrations took place in the months of May and June 2016 and turned chaotic in most occasions resulting in loss of lives, property and injuries. KNCHR condemned the use of excessive force by the authorities during the protests and also called on the members of the public to also adhere to their duty to respect the rights of other people as they enjoy their freedom of assembly. There is still much work to be done to ensure the enjoyment of the right to freedom of assembly in Kenya. The authorities need to be sensitized so that they do not use excessive force and threaten or violate the rights of protesters. Corruption Corruption appears to be a never ending challenge facing Kenya. Corruption has a grave impact on the enjoyment of human rights. Several cases of corruption in the public sector have been reported with varied efforts made by the State to hold those culpable to account. The cases reported include Ministries such as the Devolution and Planning Ministry whose Cabinet Secretary had to resign following allegation of corruption 4

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