Continental judges, lawyers forum protests deportation of Ugandan activist Martin Mavenjina from Kenya

The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) has expressed deep concern over the deportation of  Ugandan human rights activist Martin Mavenjina.

Mavenjina, a renowned and distinguished human rights practitioner who works with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) was deported on Saturday.

He recently attended the AJJF Reparatory Justice Surgery held in Johannesburg, South Africa. He departed Kenya on July 2 to attend the meeting and upon his return to Kenya on Saturday, he was deported to Uganda despite being in possession of a valid and subsisting work visa.

“This action of the Kenyan authorities raises serious concerns about the adherence to due process, human rights and the rule of law. Africa Judges and Jurists Forum urges the government of Kenya to ensure compliance with its regional and international obligations, including under article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to guarantee the right to freedom of movement and prohibit arbitrary expulsion, “Martin Okumu-Masiga, the forum’s secretary general said.

“The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders affirms in Articles 1 and 12 that individuals like Mr. Mavenjina have the right to promote and protect human rights without fear of intimidation or retaliation. Domestically, the Constitution of Kenya, Article 39, enshrines the right to freedom of movement, and Article 47 guarantees the right to fair administrative action. These binding obligations require Kenyan authorities to respect and protect the rights of all individuals, including human rights defenders, and to ensure that measures such as deportation strictly adhere to due process and are not used to harass or silence civil society actors,” he added.

The forum urged the Kenyan government to provide accountability by immediately providing a detailed public account of the facts and circumstances resulting inMavenjina’s deportation, and hold to account anyone who may have abused their authority in the way he was treated.

At the same it called for the restoration of his human rights, including his right to freedom of movement and residence, his right to return to and remain in Kenya without arbitrary expulsion, his right to due process and fair administrative action, and his right to carry out his legitimate human rights work free from intimidation or reprisals; and for the government to commit to future protection, including refraining from further intimidation, harassment, or unlawful removal of individuals lawfully residing in the country.